Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelensky have spoken on the phone after Donald Trump’s chilling decision to suspend military aid to Ukraine in a massive boost to Vladimir Putin
Keir Starmer has hailed Volodymyr Zelensky’s “steadfast commitment to securing peace” after a phone call following his latest blow from Donald Trump.
The Ukrainian President was rocked overnight by Trump’s announcement that he was suspending military aid to the war-torn country. The move has been widely condemned amid growing fears the White House is getting uncomfortably close to Vladimir Putin.
The decision to cut support led to veteran Tory MP Graham Stuart questioning whether Trump could be a Russian asset. And Vice President JD Vance turned the temperature up further when he appeared to suggest the UK was “some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 years” – but later denied doing so.
Despite the latest fall-out, which follows ugly scenes in the Oval Office on Friday, Mr Zelensky has said the spat was “regrettable”, but said he and his team “stand ready” to work with Trump.
In a statement No10 said: “The Prime Minister spoke to the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, this afternoon. The Prime Minister updated on his discussion with President Trump last night. It was vital that all parties worked towards a lasting and secure peace for Ukraine as soon as possible, the Prime Minister added.
“Turning to President Zelenskyy’s most recent calls for further diplomatic efforts to achieve the swiftest possible end to the war, the Prime Minister welcomed President Zelenskyy’s steadfast commitment to securing peace. Underscoring that any peace for Ukraine needed to be lasting and secure, the Prime Minister said no one wanted peace more than Ukraine. The leaders agreed to stay in close touch in the coming days.”
Mr Zelensky joined European leaders in London at the weekend, where Mr Starmer pleaded with them to join a “coalition of the willing” to bring the war to an end. Following his phone call with the PM he said: “Peace is needed for all of us. A just peace with clear security guarantees. Together with the leadership of the United States and all of Europe, this is absolutely achievable.
“I am grateful for the advice and support during this challenging time. We will always remember everything the British people have done for Ukrainians and our shared security.”
The Prime Minister said he wants to put a peace plan together with Ukraine and France that will be put to the Trump administration. But he maintains that a security guarantee from the US is needed to stop Putin’s forces regrouping and striking again.
Earlier Mr Zelensky has said that he and his team “stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts”. In a post on Twitter/X, the Ukrainian President said: “None of us wants an endless war. Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians.
“My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts. We are ready to work fast to end the war, and the first stages could be the release of prisoners and truce in the sky – ban on missiles, long-ranged drones, bombs on energy and other civilian infrastructure – and truce in the sea immediately, if Russia will do the same.
“Then we want to move very fast through all next stages and to work with the US to agree a strong final deal. We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence. And we remember the moment when things changed when President Trump provided Ukraine with Javelins. We are grateful for this.
“Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was supposed to be. It is regrettable that it happened this way. It is time to make things right. We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive.
“Regarding the agreement on minerals and security, Ukraine is ready to sign it in any time and in any convenient format. We see this agreement as a step toward greater security and solid security guarantees, and I truly hope it will work effectively.”
