Starmer speaks to Trump and Zelensky following White Home row

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 talks resulted in a shouting match in entrance of the media within the Oval Workplace as Trump instructed his Ukrainian counterpart to be extra grateful for US help and accused him of “playing with World Struggle 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 battle between Ukraine and Russia.

A No 10 spokesperson stated: “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 appears to be like ahead to internet hosting worldwide leaders on Sunday together with President Zelensky.”

The Oval Workplace spat prompted phrases of help for Zelensky from key European allies, together with France and Germany.

Within the heated conflict on the White Home, each Trump and Zelensky interrupted one another repeatedly throughout what was speculated 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 depart the White Home earlier than the minerals settlement could possibly be signed.

In a later interview with Fox Information, Zelensky stated the general public spat “was not good” – however the relationship between him and Trump could possibly be salvaged.

Sir Keir had met with Trump within the Oval Workplace on Thursday, and 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 for a second 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 battle 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 “accomplished nothing” to hunt an finish to the battle in Ukraine.

Response to Friday’s assembly between Trump and Zelensky appeared to largely fall alongside partisan strains amongst US politicians, with Republicans praising Trump and Democrats criticising him.

French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk had been among the many European leaders who expressed solidarity with Zelensky.

Friedrich Merz, who is anticipated to change into Germany’s subsequent chancellor, wrote that he stood with Ukraine “in good and testing occasions”, including: “We must not ever confuse aggressor and sufferer on this horrible battle.”

In a press release, Conservative occasion chief Kemi Badenoch stated “respectable diplomacy is important for peace”, including {that a} “divided West solely advantages Russia”.

Lib Dem chief Sir Ed Davey steered Trump and Vance had been “bullying the courageous true patriot Zelensky into accepting a deal that successfully palms victory to Russia”.

The chief of the SNP at Westminster chief Stephen Flynn stated the provide to Mr Trump of a second state go to ought to be revoked.

In Ukraine, there was broad appreciation for Zelensky holding his floor over what many Ukrainians see as an existential battle.

“Trump’s administration was so boastful,” one man in Kyiv instructed the BBC. “While you take a look at Zelensky’s face, you perceive that the dialogue behind closed doorways was not so well mannered.”

Russia, in the meantime, stated Trump and Vance had acted with restraint. A international ministry spokeswoman stated it was a miracle the pair had not hit Zelensky.