World leaders on Monday are congratulating President Donald Trump on his inauguration as the 47th president of the United States.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was among those who congratulated Trump.
“President Trump is always decisive, and the peace through strength policy he announced provides an opportunity to strengthen American leadership and achieve a long-term and just peace, which is a top priority,” Zelenskyy said.
The third anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war is approaching at the end of February.
Trump previously promised to end the Russia-Ukraine war in one day after becoming president, or even before his inauguration. More recently, Trump advisers have said resolving the conflict will now take months or even longer.
Trump has voiced skepticism of continued U.S. military support for Kyiv.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also congratulated President Trump.
“I believe that working together again will raise the U.S.-Israeli alliance to even greater heights,” Netanyahu said.
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began Sunday, just one day before Trump assumed the presidency.
“I look forward to working with you to return the remaining hostages, to destroy Hamas’ military capabilities and end its political rule in Gaza, and to ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel,” Netanyahu added.
Congratulations also rolled in from NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, as well as U.S. allies like Germany, Italy and Britain.
“The U.S. is our closest ally, and the aim of our policy is always a good transatlantic relationship,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pointed to the longtime relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom.
“For centuries, the relationship between our two nations has been one of collaboration, cooperation and enduring partnership,” Starmer said. “With President Trump’s longstanding affection and historical ties to the United Kingdom, I know that depth of friendship will continue.”
And Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who attended the inauguration at the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, said she is “certain that the friendship between our nations and the values that unite us will continue to strengthen the cooperation between Italy and the USA.”
But not all of the messages were congratulatory.
Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino rejected a portion of Trump’s inaugural address, in which Trump reaffirmed his desire to reassert U.S. control over the Panama Canal.
The United States fully ceded control of the strategically important canal to Panama in 1999.
“On behalf of the Republic of Panama and its people, I must fully reject the words outlined by President Donald Trump regarding Panama and its canal in his inaugural speech,” Mulino said in a statement.
Some information in this report came from Reuters.
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