Zelenskyy meets with British PM Keir Starmer after Trump clash
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy received a warm welcome from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer outside 10 Downing St. in London on Saturday. This meeting came a day after a tense exchange with President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. Zelenskyy and Starmer embraced, shook hands, and waved to reporters before heading inside the prime minister’s residence for their meeting.
The scheduled London visit followed Zelenskyy’s blowup with Trump and Vice President JD Vance during Friday’s televised meeting in the Oval Office. Despite being bombarded with questions from reporters about Trump outside the prime minister’s residence, Zelenskyy remained tight-lipped.
During their meeting, Starmer expressed the United Kingdom’s full support for Ukraine and their commitment to standing with them for as long as necessary. He emphasized the importance of achieving lasting peace for Ukraine based on sovereignty and security. Zelenskyy, in turn, thanked the British people for their unwavering support since the beginning of the war.
Zelenskyy also mentioned his upcoming meeting with King Charles III at Sandringham on Sunday, expressing his happiness about the opportunity. The Ukrainian president’s visit to London followed a heated exchange in the White House over a potential peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. Zelenskyy accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of breaching agreements and lacking trustworthiness, which led to tensions with Trump and Vance.
The dispute escalated with accusations from Trump and Vance about Zelenskyy’s handling of the negotiations. Despite the heated exchange, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for America’s support and emphasized the need for just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
In an interview with Fox News after the meeting, Zelenskyy expressed hope for salvaging Ukrainian-U.S. relations, highlighting the strong historical ties between the two nations. He acknowledged that the exchange with Trump and Vance was regrettable but believed that both sides could move past it.
Overall, the meeting between Zelenskyy and Starmer in London showcased the ongoing support for Ukraine and the efforts to work towards peace in the region. Despite the challenges and disagreements, both leaders emphasized the importance of unity and cooperation in achieving a lasting resolution to the conflict.
