CONSERVATIVE leader Kemi Badenoch has said Donald Trump and JD Vance did not "ambush" Volodymyr Zelenskyy following their shocking exchange at the Oval Office.
The US President and Vice President humiliated the Ukrainian leader on live television on Friday accusing him of "gambling with world war three".
The extraordinary clash resulted in the cancellation of a planned press conference and the expected signing of a rare minerals deal between the two countries.
But despite the scenes causing shockwaves across the world, Badenoch has said she does not believe Trump ambushed his Ukrainian counterpart.
She added that she did not think having English as a second language was "helpful" for Zelenskyy.
Speaking to the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme, she said: “Honestly, my heart went out to President Zelenskyy. I watched it and I couldn’t believe what was happening, he was being humiliated.
“I don’t think we should conduct these sorts of difficult conversations in front of the cameras and we have to remember that President Zelenskyy is a hero, he is the person who represents that strength and resilience of the Ukrainian people.”
"My heart went out to President Zelensky" Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch says she "couldn't believe what was happening" and that Ukrainian President Zelensky was "humiliated" while meeting US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office#BBCLauraK https://t.co/Qc14PAI113 pic.twitter.com/jBOB0yA79N
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) March 2, 2025
She added: “I don’t think it was an ambush, I think that both parties are working for their respective national interest, and they seem to be speaking at cross-purposes.
“I think sometimes having English as a second language is not necessarily helpful. During all the trade negotiations I had as trade secretary, most of the eastern European countries had an interpreter there.”
Badenoch added that the UK needs to make sure "America does not disengage" in efforts towards peace in Ukraine.
Earlier on the programme, Keir Starmer said he still trusts Trump despite his treatment of Zelenskyy.
Asked if he trusted both Trump and Zelenskyy, he responded “yes, I do” to both questions.
Pressed on why he trusts the US President, he said: “Because I’ve spoken to him a number of times. I’ve got to know him. I’ve had extensive discussions with him and I believe his motivation is lasting peace.”
Starmer also refused to say he would pull an invitation to the US President for an unprecedented second state visit to the UK.
Kuenssberg questioned why Trump deserves an unprecedented second visit when it wasn’t offered to other US presidents like George Bush or Ronald Reagan.
He said: “I've seen people ramping up the rhetoric and taking to Twitter and saying what they would do.
“Good for them. I'm not that interested in that.
“I'm interested in what are the practical steps, what is the bridge building that I can do, what are the relationships that I can mend and take forward to take us to lasting peace in Europe."
