The leaders of France and Germany have called on the European Union to build a “more united, stronger and more sovereign” continent in the face of Donald Trump’s historic election victory in the United States.

EU leaders fear that Trump’s return to the White House could jeopardise American support for Ukraine and even lead to Washington pulling out of Nato, stripping Europe of the security umbrella it has enjoyed since the end of the Second World War.

On Wednesday, Emmanuel Macron, the French president, and Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, held crisis talks after it became clear that Trump would return to the White House.

“I have just spoken with the chancellor,” Mr Macron said. “We will work towards a more united, stronger, more sovereign Europe in this new context – by cooperating with the United States of America and defending our interests and our values.”

Mr Scholz stressed that he was ready to work with Trump, as did Mr Macon, who fell out with the Republican candidate during his first term.