Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has spoken with U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following a heated exchange between the two leaders in Washington over U.S. support for Ukraine.
Zelensky had traveled to the White House for discussions with Trump, but what began as a diplomatic meeting quickly spiraled into a public confrontation. Trump accused Zelensky of not showing enough gratitude for U.S. aid and warned him against “gambling with World War Three.” The Oval Office dispute, which unfolded in front of the media, led to the cancellation of a scheduled press conference and Zelensky’s premature departure from the White House before the signing of a minerals agreement.
In response, No. 10 issued a statement affirming Starmer’s “unwavering support for Ukraine.” The prime minister is set to host a summit of European leaders in the UK on Sunday to discuss pathways to ending the war in Ukraine. European allies, including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, have expressed strong support for Zelensky, with German political leader Friedrich Merz emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between “aggressor and victim” in the conflict.
Former UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt noted that while tensions were high, there remained “a sliver of hope” for a sustainable peace agreement. Hunt suggested that Trump seeks a lasting peace deal as part of his presidential legacy and does not intend to abandon Ukraine entirely. However, he stressed that diplomacy requires “a little bit of time” for tempers to cool.
Starmer, who met with Trump in the Oval Office on Thursday, discussed trade relations and delivered an invitation from King Charles III for a second state visit. While there was speculation that Starmer sought U.S. security guarantees for a European peace plan, Trump did not confirm any such commitment.
Political reactions to the White House altercation have been deeply divided. UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called for “respectable diplomacy,” while Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey accused Trump of “bullying” Zelensky. In Ukraine, public sentiment largely supported Zelensky’s firm stance, with many seeing the confrontation as a necessary defense of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Russia, meanwhile, responded favorably to Trump’s handling of the situation, with a foreign ministry spokesperson remarking that it was a “miracle” the U.S. president did not escalate the dispute further.
As tensions continue to rise, Starmer’s efforts to unify European leaders and stabilize diplomatic channels will be closely watched.
