Skip to content

Zelensky calls for Trump and Starmer to meet and find common ground

Laura KuenssbergPresenter, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg
Zelensky says he does not see 'a great problem' in US-UK relationship

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer to meet and find common ground, after the US president's repeated criticism of the UK prime minister.

In an exclusive interview with the BBC after talks with Sir Keir, the Ukrainian president said that while he would not tell Trump what to do, the pair should meet to "re-load the relationship".

A war ignited by US and Israeli strikes on Iran has spilled into a diplomatic row after Trump's reprimanding of the Nato allies and Starmer's supposed lack of military action.

Zelensky warned against division among western leaders and said he had a "very bad feeling" about the impact of war in Iran on Ukraine.

News imageLaura Kuenssberg (L) sits talking to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Kuenssberg wears a black suit jacket, black trousers and cream top. Her hands are clasped beside her hip. Zelensky sits oposite her and is wearing a black suit jacket, black shirt and black trousers. His hand is slightly raised as he talks. The pair are sat on beige chairs, behind them is a grey curtain and three lamps. The carpet beneath them is dark blue with a cream floral pattern.
Zelensky said he had a "bad feeling" about the impact of Middle East conflict on the war in Ukraine

"I would really like President Trump to meet with Starmer... so that they have a common position," he said.

In his latest attack on Tuesday, Trump branded Starmer "no Winston Churchill" and said that while he thinks the UK prime minister is a "nice man" he is "disappointed".

Starmer's response held firm, insisting the UK will not be drawn into a wider war, with Downing Street reiterating an "enduring" US-UK relationship.

Zelensky also said he had a "very bad feeling" about the impact of the Middle East conflict on the war in Ukraine, saying negotiations towards peace are being "constantly postponed. There is one reason - war in Iran".

News imageEPA/Shutterstock Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) in Downing Street, London. Zelensky is wearing a black jacket as he shakes the hand of Starmer who is wearing a navy suit and white shirtEPA/Shutterstock
Volodymyr Zelensky suggested technology developed in Ukraine could have helped protect RAF Akrotiri from the drone strike which hit it earlier this month in Cyprus

Starmer welcomed Zelensky to Downing Street on Tuesday - the latest stop on the Ukrainian leader's tour of European capital cities.

Zelensky visited Paris last week and travels to Madrid on Wednesday. The visits come as the Middle East conflict overshadows Ukraine's four-year fight against Russia's full-scale invasion.

"I think it's really important that we are clear that the focus must remain on Ukraine," said Starmer.

As part of Zelensky's visit to London, the Ukrainian leader addressed MPs in Parliament.

"The regimes in Russia and Iran are brothers in hatred and that is why they are brothers in weapons," Zelensky said. "And we want regimes built on hatred, to never, never win in anything. And we want no such regime to threaten Europe or our partners."

Among those in the audience in a packed Westminster committee room were Sir Keir, Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Defence Secretary John Healey and leaders of opposition parties.

News imageReuters Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte, Lord McFall, Lord Speaker of the UK House of Lords, Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer listen as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (centre) delivers a speech to Members of Parliament, in Committee Room 14 at the House of CommonsReuters
Zelensky told British politicians that Ukraine had become pioneers by necessity in modern warfare and is now schooled in techniques they can share with allies
News imageThin, red banner promoting the Politics Essential newsletter with text saying, “Get the latest political analysis and big moments, delivered straight to your inbox every weekday”. There is also an image of the Houses of Parliament.

Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to read top political analysis, gain insight from across the UK and stay up to speed with the big moments. It'll be delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.