'Uncomfortable': UK PM On Trump-Zelenskyy Spat, Says Both Leaders Could Be Trusted But Not Putin

Last Updated:March 02, 2025, 19:24 IST

UK PM Keir Starmer hosted Zelenskyy in London in a major Ukraine Summit after blowout between Kyiv and Washington.

UK PM Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Reuters Image)

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who hosted Volodymyr Zelenskyy in London this weekend, said that the verbal spat between US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart was “uncomfortable".

The UK PM further said that while both Trump and Zelenskyy could be trusted, Russian President Vladimir Putin could not, which is why, he advocated, the US needs to provide a security guarantee for any peace deal between Ukraine and Russia.

His remarks came as calls continue to grow among the European nations “to find a new leader" amid a major policy shift of the United States towards Russia.

In an interview with the BBC, he was asked about the verbal duel between Trump and Zelenskyy in front of the media at the White House. Starmer sought to play the incident down, saying “nobody wants to see that" and added that he felt “uncomfortable".

He also outlined his approach towards mending the worsening ties between the US and Ukraine and said that he spoke to Trump and Zelenskyy in an effort to “get us back to the central forces".

“The important thing is how to react to that. There are several different routes people could go down. One is to ramp up the rhetoric as to how outraged we all are or not," Starmer told BBC.

“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," he added.

Starmer avoided laying any blame for the ongoing controversy and said that he was clear in his mind that “Trump wants a lasting peace". When asked if Trump could be trusted, he responded, “Yes".

“Zelensky could also be trusted but not Putin – which is the reason the US needs to provide a security guarantee for any peace deal," he said.

Starmer also said that the UK and France would work with Ukraine on a plan to end the war with Russia, and will later present it to Trump later.

London, United Kingdom (UK)

News world 'Uncomfortable': UK PM On Trump-Zelenskyy Spat, Says Both Leaders Could Be Trusted But Not Putin