Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer spoke with U.S. President Donald and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following a tense Oval Office meeting between the two leaders that erupted into a heated argument over American support for Ukraine.
Zelensky’s visit to the White House began with formal pleasantries but quickly turned confrontational as Trump accused him of being insufficiently grateful for U.S. aid and warned he was “gambling with World War Three.” The diplomatic fallout prompted No 10 to reaffirm the UK’s “unwavering support for Ukraine” in a statement released Friday night.
Sir Keir is set to host a summit of European leaders on Sunday, where Zelensky will join discussions on strategies to end the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.
A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed the prime minister’s calls with both leaders, emphasising his commitment to securing a lasting peace based on Ukraine’s sovereignty and security. “The prime minister looks forward to hosting international leaders, including President Zelensky, on Sunday,” the statement read.
The dramatic White House exchange, initially intended as a lead-up to the signing of a minerals agreement between the U.S. and Ukraine, instead devolved into an on-camera shouting match. Trump and Zelensky repeatedly interrupted one another, with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance also stepping into the fray. The situation escalated further when the scheduled press conference was abruptly cancelled, and Zelensky was asked to leave the White House before the minerals deal could be finalised.
Speaking later to Fox News, Zelensky admitted that the public spat was unhelpful but maintained that his relationship with Trump could still be salvaged.
Sir Keir had met with Trump in Washington a day earlier, where they agreed to begin work on a new U.S.-UK trade deal. He also delivered a letter from King Charles III inviting Trump for a second state visit to the UK. While some speculated that Sir Keir sought a U.S. security “backstop” for a European peace plan on Ukraine, Trump did not commit to any such measure, having previously criticised European leaders, including Sir Keir and French President Emmanuel Macron, for “doing nothing” to end the war.
The fallout from Trump and Zelensky’s clash drew sharp political reactions. In the U.S., Republicans largely backed Trump’s stance, while Democrats condemned his approach. Across Europe, key leaders, including Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, publicly expressed support for Zelensky. Friedrich Merz, the frontrunner to become Germany’s next chancellor, reaffirmed his country’s solidarity with Ukraine, stressing the importance of distinguishing between “aggressor and victim.”
In the UK, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch underscored the need for “respectable diplomacy,” warning that a “divided West only benefits Russia.” Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey accused Trump and Vance of “bullying” Zelensky into accepting terms that would amount to a Russian victory. SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn went further, calling for Trump’s invitation for a second state visit to be revoked.
Meanwhile, in Ukraine, the public reaction reflected broad support for Zelensky’s firm stance, with many citizens viewing the war as existential. A Kyiv resident told the BBC that Zelensky’s expression during the meeting suggested “the discussion behind closed doors was not so polite.”
Russia’s response was notably restrained, with a foreign ministry spokeswoman remarking that it was “a miracle” Trump and Vance had not physically lashed out at Zelensky.
