Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has reportedly spoken to both U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after a dramatic and highly publicized Oval Office showdown that saw Trump accuse Zelensky of ‘gambling with World War Three.’
What started as a diplomatic engagement between Trump and Zelensky in Washington quickly spiraled into chaos. The Ukrainian leader had been warmly welcomed to the White House, but the cordial atmosphere disintegrated into an extraordinary shouting match in front of the media. Trump, visibly frustrated, told Zelensky to show more gratitude for U.S. support, while Zelensky pushed back, asserting Ukraine’s urgent need for aid.
No 10 Downing Street confirmed late Friday that Prime Minister Starmer had personally reached out to both leaders in an effort to stabilize the situation. A spokesperson stated: “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 fallout from the heated exchange was immediate. European allies, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, rallied around Zelensky, voicing strong support for Ukraine. Friedrich Merz, Germany’s likely next chancellor, wrote that he stood with Ukraine “in good and testing times” and warned against confusing “aggressor and victim” in the war.
The explosive confrontation was supposed to be a precursor to the signing of a minerals deal between the U.S. and Ukraine, but tensions reached a boiling point, leading to an abrupt cancellation of a scheduled press conference. U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who was present, was also drawn into the verbal clash. Ultimately, Zelensky was asked to leave the White House before the minerals agreement could be finalized.
In an interview with Fox News later that day, Zelensky admitted the confrontation “was not good,” but remained hopeful that his relationship with Trump could be salvaged.
Adding to the high-stakes diplomatic drama, Sir Keir had met with Trump a day earlier in the Oval Office, securing an agreement 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—an invitation that some UK political leaders now believe should be reconsidered in light of Friday’s events.
The meeting between Trump and Zelensky has ignited fierce political debate on both sides of the Atlantic. In the U.S., reactions fell largely along party lines, with Republicans praising Trump’s tough stance and Democrats condemning his behavior. In the UK, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch stressed the need for “respectable diplomacy” to ensure peace, warning that a “divided West only benefits Russia.” Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey accused Trump and Vance of “bullying the brave true patriot Zelensky into accepting a deal that effectively hands victory to Russia.” Meanwhile, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn called for Trump’s state visit invitation to be revoked altogether.
In Ukraine, the response was one of widespread admiration for Zelensky’s resilience. “Trump’s administration was so arrogant,” said one man in Kyiv. “When you look at Zelensky’s face, you understand that the discussion behind closed doors was not so polite.”
Russia, unsurprisingly, saw things differently. A foreign ministry spokeswoman praised Trump and Vance for their “restraint,” even suggesting it was a miracle the two hadn’t physically confronted Zelensky.
As Zelensky prepares to visit the UK for a European leaders’ summit hosted by Starmer, all eyes remain on the unfolding transatlantic drama. The question now is whether this diplomatic firestorm will lead to further division—or a recalibrated strategy for ending the war in Ukraine.
