Speaking to Politico, Donald Trump criticized EU leaders as "weak" and called Europe "a group of countries in decline."
Trump also said he has "not much hope" for Europe's role in the Ukraine peace talks, because "they only talk, they don't act, and the war keeps going on."
Jakub pointed out that "these remarks are of no comfort to European leaders who were already concerned by the anti-EU rhetoric from the American right wing over the weekend."
Although these comments are in line with the president's usual rhetoric in many respects, the timing of their release is undoubtedly significant.
Jakub wrote, "When European leaders want - or more accurately, really need - to maintain close contact with him (Trump), at the same time that he was named by Politico as 'the most powerful person shaping Europe,' he repeats these statements with a certain sense of pride... this makes the situation particularly complicated for all parties involved."
Original: toutiao.com/article/1851050354026508/
Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.