Donald Trump with Vladimir Putin.

Donald Trump’s approach to the Ukraine war has led to “a lot of smiles in Moscow”, a former EU diplomat has declared.

Joao Vale De Almeida, who was the bloc’s ambassador to the United States, also accused the American president of living in “an alternate reality”.

And he said Trump “has shown more respect for Mr Putin and for Russia than for Europeans” in his desire to agree a peace deal to end the conflict.

De Almeida hit out after the US president launched a brutal attack on “decaying” Europe and described the continent’s leaders as “weak”.

Appearing on Times Radio, De Almeida accused the US president of siding with Russia in his attempts to end the war in Ukraine.

“We’re getting used to President Trump’s comments, but still the latest ones hit a delicate spot on our side,” he said.

“We appreciate President Trump’s interest in Europe, we are also interested in the United States, but we fear he is talking about an alternate reality.

“I don’t recognise myself in his description of Europe today, be it the........

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