British Prime Minister Keir Starmer offered a warm embrace of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after a Friday clash with President Trump which prompted questions about future U.S. support for the Eastern European nation.
“You have full backing from the United Kingdom and we stand with you with Ukraine for as long as it may take,” Starmer, who visited the White House on Thursday, said during a presser with Zelensky.
“And I hope you've heard some of that cheering in the street, 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 unwavering determination,” the British leader added.
The meeting between the two European leaders follows the Friday blowout between Trump, Zelensky and Vice President Vance televised from the Oval Office.
Trump, Vance and Zelensky engaged in a heated discussion surrounding proposals for peace after Zelensky asked Vance to clarify his remarks about using “diplomacy” to achieve peace between Russia and Ukraine.
“We tried the pathway of Joe Biden, of thumping our chest and pretending that the president of the United States' words mattered more than the president of the United States' actions,” Vance said.
“What makes America a good country is America engaging in diplomacy,” he added. “That's what President Trump is doing.”
Zelensky then pointed out Russia’s repeated invasions of Ukraine since 2014, citing a violation of past ceasefire agreements.
“What kind of diplomacy, JD, you are speaking about? What do you mean?” Zelensky asked the vice president.
The conversation quickly became heated, with Zelensky then leaving the White House ahead of a scheduled joint press conference. After the meeting, Trump said the Ukrainian president was not “ready for peace.”
“It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE,” Trump continued. “He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
Dozens of European leaders took to social media to signal solidify their support for Ukraine after the Friday spat.
Starmer and Zelensky's Saturday meeting also comes a day before European leaders will gather in London to brainstorm efforts to end the three-year war with Russia.
Leaders from France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Turkey, Finland, Sweden, Czechia and Romania, as well as the NATO secretary-general and the presidents of the European Commission and European Council are expected to attend.
Zelensky is also slated to meet with King Charles on Sunday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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