Keir Starmer has spoken to both leaders this evening, and said his support for Ukraine is ‘unwavering’ after Donald Trump launched an extraordinary diatribe against Volodymyr Zelensky
Keir Starmer has said his support for Ukraine is “unwavering” following Donald Trump’s vicious White House attack on Volodymr Zelensky.
The Prime Minister has spoken to both Mr Zelensky and Trump this evening as the President’s astonishing behaviour sends shockwaves around the world. Trump launched a vile tirade against the Ukrainian leader in the Oval Office in front of the world’s cameras – accusing him of “disrespecting” the US and “gambling with World War Three”.
It has been met with panic across Europe as leaders – including Mr Zelensky – prepare for an emergency summit in London on Sunday. In a statement Downing Street said: “The Prime Minister has tonight spoken to both President Trump and President Zelensky. He retains unwavering support for Ukraine, and is doing all he can to find a path forward to a lasting peace based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine.
“The Prime Minister looks forward to hosting international leaders on Sunday including President Zelensky.”
Trump’s diatribe, assisted by sidekick JD Vance, came 24 hours after Mr Starmer met the President in the same room. The PM pushed for the US to provide a “backstop” security guarantee to any peace deal to end the war.
Following the excruciating scenes, Kaja Kallas, Vice President of the European Commission, wrote: “Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It’s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge.”
John Bolton, an ex-US ambassador to the United Nations, said: “This puts Trump and Vance on the side of the Russians.” He went on: “We are in danger of losing every alliance we have in the world.”
No10’s response comes after Labour trade minister Douglas Alexander branded the Oval Office fracas “deeply troubling and sobering”. Mr Alexander told the BBC: “It’s my personal view that Volodymyr Zelensky is probably the bravest political leader in Europe since Winston Churchill. I traveled into Kyiv in April of 2022, just two or three months after the invasion, and it was truly humbling to witness not just the courage of Zelensky himself, but the extraordinary heroism of the Ukrainian people.
“That exchange was deeply troubling and sobering that we witnessed tonight. The only winner from the division of the West is going to be President Putin.”
Anger erupted in a meeting between Trump and Mr Zelensky as the US President accused his Ukrainian counterpart of “gambling with World War III”. In fiery exchanges in the Oval Office, the erratic Republican berated his guest, telling him he “didn’t have the cards” to win the war without the United States. And he issued Ukraine’s President with an ultimatum: “You either make a deal, or we’re out.”
But Mr Zelensky warned Trump promises of peace from Vladimir Putin could not be trusted. He called the Russian leader a killer and a terrorist and told Trump there should be “no compromises with a killer.”
Ukrainian ambassador to the US Oksana Markarova was seen holding back tears as the Republican duo rounded on Mr Zelensky. Trump’s behaviour appears to have thrown out hopes that a peace deal to end the war started by tyrant Putin can be reached.
The shameless posturing has been greeted with delight in Moscow. Former Russian President and Putin ally Dmitry Medvedev wrote: “The insolent pig (Mr Zelensky) finally got a proper slap down in the Oval Office.
“And (Donald Trump) is right: The Kiev regime is ‘gambling with WWIII.” And Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said it was a miracle the US representatives had restrained themselves from hitting Zelensky.
The cowardly US commander-in-chief later wrote of Mr Zelensky: “He disrespected the United States of American in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for peace.”
European leaders are set to meet in London at the weekend amid growing alarm about the Trump administration’s actions. It sparked alarm by opening peace negotiations with a Russian delegation in Saudi Arabia, with Mr Zelensky frozen out.
Trump has repeatedly refused to commit to a security guarantee, sparking warnings that Putin will regroup and strike again. Despite the shocking treatment in front of the world’s cameras, Mr Zelensky broke his silence to thank the US, and even Trump.
He wrote on Twitter/X: “Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you (President Trump), Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.”
