Donald Trump is said to want a public apology from Volodymyr Zelensky after their explosive White House row – as Sir Keir Starmer finds himself caught in the middle.
The US President is reportedly demanding his Ukrainian counterpart makes the first move to restore relations following their fractious Oval Office dispute on Friday night.
Prime Minister Sir Keir welcomed Mr Zelensky to Downing Street the following day and made clear Britain’s ongoing backing for Ukraine amid Russia‘s invasion – as Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced £2.26billion of new funding.
The British PM had been a guest at the White House on Thursday, appearing to get on well with President Trump while handing over an invitation from King Charles for a state visit to the UK.
Sir Keir is now among those leading attempts to build bridges between the US and Ukraine, heading pressure on Mr Zelensky to ‘patch things up’.
But US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has declared the Ukrainian PM should ‘apologise for turning this thing into the fiasco for him that it became’.
Mr Zelensky is today scheduled to be welcomed by the King in another UK show of support for Ukraine in defiance of the US position made clear by Mr Trump and his Vice-President JD Vance.
Sir Keir last night spoke with both Mr Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, after the PM insisted Ukraine had ‘full backing across the United Kingdom’ in a Number 10 meeting with Mr Zelensky.
Donald Trump (right) laid into his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky (left) during talks between the two presidents at the White House on Friday
Mr Zelensky was then welcomed the following day by Sir Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street
A summit of world leaders is today being held in London – pictured in talks on February 24 are (left to right) Ursula von der Leyen, Volodymyr Zelensky, Justin Trudeau and Antonio Costa
Sir Keir also told the Ukrainian leader that Britain stood with his nation ‘for as long as it may take’ – and embraced him several times on camera.
Yet the PM also told Mr Zelensky he needed to ‘patch things up’ with the US president following their very public fall-out, according to the Telegraph.
The US government has privately suggested wanting a public apology from Mr Zelensky, Bloomberg reported European officials were saying.
World leaders are due to hold crunch talks on Ukraine’s future in London today, at Lancaster House, a mansion near Buckingham Palace.
The Prime Minister is expected to urge the 18 countries in attendance to follow the UK in answering the US’s calls to boost defence spending.
Sir Keir, who has now called Trump twice in two days, is seeking to act as a bridge between Europe and America and keep NATO together.
The meeting brings together leaders from around continental Europe, including France, Germany, Denmark and Italy as well as Turkey, NATO and the European Union.
Sir Keir said ahead of the talks: ‘Now is the time for us to unite in order to guarantee the best outcome for Ukraine, protect European security, and secure our collective future.’
British Prime Minister SIr Keir Starmer (right) hosted Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky (left) at 10 Downing Street on Saturday
Sir Keir welcomed Mr Zelensky outside No. 10 before holding talks inside
The meeting came after the tense clash between Volodymyr Zelensky (left), US President Donald Trump (centre) and US Vice-President JD Vance (right) at the White House on Friday
Downing Street has urged a ‘strong lasting deal that delivers a permanent peace’ and said leaders would discuss ‘next steps on planning for strong security guarantees’.
The summit comes amid growing fears over whether the United States would continue to support NATO.
The clash between Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky in the Oval Office was broadcast around the world on Friday,with the US President claiming his counterpart was ‘gambling with World War III’.
Mr Trump’s administration has made it clear privately it wants a public apology from Zelensky to mend relations, Bloomberg has now reported.
Media reports from the US suggested Trump considered cutting off all aid to Ukraine following their 45-minute televised confrontation.
The Ukrainian leader was accused of not being thankful enough for US military aid by both the US president and his deputy Mr Vance.
In contrast with the terse exchange in the Oval Office, Mr Zelensky praised his meeting with Sir Keir on Saturday as ‘meaningful and warm’.
Sir Keir, who usually stands at the doorstep of No. 10 to greet world leaders, walked towards Mr Zelensky to meet him as he arrived – the pair then shared a hug before approaching the famous black door together.
Sir Keir Starmer told Volodymyr Zelensky that Britain stood with his nation Ukraine ‘for as long as it may take’, three years into Russia’s invasion of the country
Sir Keir embraced Mr Zelensky in Downing Street and later accompanied him to his car
A group of pro-Ukrainian demonstrators could be seen outside the gates of the street, and were heard to cheer as Mr Zelensky’s convoy drove by.
Sir Keir later today his guest: ‘That is the people of the United Kingdom coming out to demonstrate how much they support you and how much they support Ukraine.’
Meanwhile, NATO chief Mark Rutte warned Mr Zelensky that he needed to find a way to restore his relationship with Mr Trump.
He described Friday’s White House meeting as ‘unfortunate’, as he told the BBC: ‘It is important that President Zelensky finds a way to restore his relationship with the American President and with the senior American leadership team.’
Describing his own discussions with Mr Zelensky, Mr Rutte added: ‘I said, “I think you have to find a way, dear Volodymyr, to restore your relationship with Donald Trump and the American administration. That is important going forward.”‘
After the Washington DC flare-up between the US and Ukrainian presidents, Sir Keir emphasised a different tone as he welcomed Mr Zelensky on Saturday.
He told Mr Zelensky: ‘Let me just say that you’re very, very welcome here in Downing Street.
‘And as you heard from the cheers on the street outside, you have full backing across the United Kingdom, and we stand with you, with Ukraine, for as long as it may take. I hope you heard some of that cheering on the street.
French president Emmanuel Macron previously met Donald Trump in Washington last week
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has been scheduled to meet King Charles on Sunday
‘That is the people of the United Kingdom coming out to demonstrate how much they support you, how much they support Ukraine, and our absolute determination to stand with you – unwavering determination – and to achieve what we both want to achieve, which is a lasting peace.’
He continued: ‘A lasting peace for Ukraine based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine – so important for Ukraine, so important for Europe and so important for the United Kingdom.
‘So I’m much looking forward to our discussions here this afternoon – thank you very much for making the time to come.’
Mr Zelensky praised Britain and King Charles for being ‘such big support from the very beginning’.
He added: ‘We’re happy and count on your support and really really have [been] such partners.’
In an earlier response to Friday’s White House argument, a No. 10 spokeswoman had 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 statement from Downing Street followed a show of unity from Europe’s political leaders, supporting Ukraine.
Mr Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen were among the leaders to express solidarity with Mr Zelensky.
