British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has expressed his discomfort over the heated exchange between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during their recent meeting in the Oval Office.
Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Starmer described the clash as something “nobody wants to see” and emphasized the importance of focusing on achieving a “lasting peace” in Ukraine for the security of Europe.
When asked about the tense exchange, Starmer said, “Yes, I felt uncomfortable. Nobody wants to see that.” He revealed that he had spoken to both Trump and Zelensky on the phone following the incident, aiming to de-escalate tensions and refocus efforts on supporting Ukraine. While he did not delve into specifics, Starmer stressed that his priority was to “bridge” the divide and bring all parties back to the central goal of ending the conflict in Ukraine.
“The important thing is how to react to that,” Starmer said. “There are a number of different routes people could go down. One is to ramp up the rhetoric as to how outraged we all are or not.
The other is to do what I did, which is roll up my sleeves, pick up the phone, talk to President Trump, talk to President Zelensky, then invite President Zelensky for an extensive meeting yesterday, a warm welcome, and then further pick up the phone to President Macron and President Trump afterwards.”
Starmer’s approach has been to prioritize diplomacy and collaboration, rather than escalating tensions. He emphasized the need for unity in addressing the ongoing conflict, which has now entered its third year. “Because my reaction was we have to bridge this. We have to find a way that we can all work together. Because, in the end, we’ve had three years of bloody conflict. Now we need to get to that lasting peace,” he said.
Regarding Trump’s intentions, Starmer expressed confidence that the U.S. president is committed to achieving a lasting peace. “I am clear in my mind that he does want a lasting peace,” Starmer said, highlighting the importance of maintaining a constructive dialogue with all parties involved.
The Prime Minister’s comments underscore the delicate balance of diplomacy required in addressing the Ukraine crisis. As tensions between global leaders continue to simmer, Starmer’s focus remains on fostering cooperation and finding a sustainable resolution to the conflict, which he believes is essential for the stability and security of Europe.
