Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has spoken to US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after a gathering between the 2 leaders in Washington descended right into a row about US help for Ukraine.
Zelensky was welcomed to the White Home by Trump, however the cordial assembly rapidly descended right into a shouting match within the Oval Workplace as Trump informed his Ukrainian counterpart to be extra grateful for US support and accused him of “playing with World Warfare Three”.
A press release from No 10 on Friday night time confirmed the prime minister had spoken with the US and Ukrainian presidents and that he retained “unwavering help for Ukraine”.
Zelensky is due within the UK on Sunday as Sir Keir hosts a summit of European leaders to debate an finish to the the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
A No 10 spokesperson mentioned: “The prime minister has tonight spoken to each President Trump and President Zelensky.
“He retains unwavering help for Ukraine, and is doing all he can to discover a path ahead to an enduring peace based mostly on sovereignty and safety for Ukraine.
“The prime minister seems to be ahead to internet hosting worldwide leaders on Sunday together with President Zelensky.”
Within the heated conflict on the White Home, each Trump and Zelensky interrupted one another repeatedly throughout what was imagined to be a prelude to the 2 leaders signing a minerals deal.
US Vice President JD Vance, sat alongside others within the room, was additionally concerned.
A press convention scheduled to happen later within the day was cancelled, and Zelensky was requested to go away the White Home earlier than the minerals settlement might be signed.
Sir Keir had met with Trump within the Oval Workplace the day prior, during which the pair agreed to start work on a brand new US-UK commerce deal.
The prime minister additionally got here bearing a letter from King Charles III inviting Trump to a state go to.
There had been hypothesis that Sir Keir had additionally gone into the assembly to hunt a US Safety “backstop” in a European peace plan for the conflict in Ukraine. Nonetheless, the US president stopped wanting confirming such a dedication.
Trump had beforehand criticised Sir Keir and French President Emmanuel Macron, whom he met on Monday, of getting “finished nothing” to hunt an finish to the conflict in Ukraine.
Response to Friday’s assembly between Trump and Zelensky appeared to fall alongside partisan traces amongst US politicians, with Republicans praising Trump and Democrats criticising him.
In Ukraine, there was broad appreciation for Zelensky holding his floor over what many Ukrainians see as an existential conflict.
“Trump’s administration was so conceited,” one man in Kyiv informed the RAYNAE. “Whenever you take a look at Zelensky’s face, you perceive that the dialogue behind closed doorways was not so well mannered.
“They’re so impolite, they do not respect the folks of Ukraine. They even do not disguise it.”
The Oval Workplace spat additionally prompted phrases of help for Zelensky from key European allies, together with France.
Friedrich Merz, who is anticipated to grow to be Germany’s subsequent chancellor, wrote that he stood with Ukraine “in good and testing instances”, including: “We must not ever confuse aggressor and sufferer on this horrible conflict.”
Russia, in the meantime, mentioned Trump and Vance had acted with restraint. A overseas ministry spokeswoman mentioned it was a miracle the pair had not hit Zelensky.
