Starmer’s Role as Trump’s New Ally Will Face Sooner Challenges Than Anticipated | Politics News

In the wake of the seismic shifts in global diplomacy witnessed at the White House on Friday, attention now turns to Downing Street.

After exiting the Oval Office earlier than expected, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made his way to the UK for an urgent discussion with Sir Keir Starmer ahead of the European leaders’ summit set for Sunday.

This meeting has been moved up a day, reflecting the heightened concerns surrounding the unprecedented rupture in ties between the US and Ukraine.

After the harsh criticism leveled by Donald Trump and JD Vance, arriving at Number 10 for a conversation with one of his closest allies must be a welcome change for the Ukrainian leader.

Nonetheless, the challenge lies in determining how they can work to mend the strained relationship.

Latest on Ukraine: Zelenskyy touches down in the UK

Reflecting on the intense confrontation from the previous night, Mr. Zelenskyy has released a thorough statement defending his stance.

Clearly feeling the sting from the vice president’s baseless assertions regarding ingratitude, he has repeatedly expressed his gratitude towards Mr. Trump and the American populace for their backing.

However, the essence of his argument—and the underlying causes of the discord with the Trump administration—remains intact. He reasserted his view that Vladimir Putin has a history of violating ceasefires and cannot be trusted to do otherwise in the future without robust US security assurances.

“Once these guarantees are established, we can discuss diplomacy with Russia, Europe, and the US,” he stated. “I seek a stronger commitment from the US to support us.”

Given Mr. Trump’s evident opposition to him, it appears he is not inclined to receive that message well.

Nonetheless, this viewpoint resonates with the UK government’s stance as well. Sir Keir has expressed his readiness to deploy British troops as part of a European peacekeeping force, contingent on the US providing a security “backstop” to deter further aggression from Mr. Putin.

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The summit on Sunday, organized by Sir Keir and featuring Mr. Zelenskyy alongside key European leaders, was intended to conclude a week filled with vigorous diplomacy. The British prime minister and French President Emmanuel Macron had hoped to build on the positive momentum from their own visits to the White House and gather more support for their European peacekeeping initiative.

However, this newfound diplomatic momentum has been abruptly halted. Would European leaders even consider acting independently without American backing? This was once an unthinkable notion, particularly given the drastic increases in defense spending it would entail.

Still, leaders across the continent have consistently shown strong support for Mr. Zelenskyy. It is crucial that they deliberate on their commitment levels should Mr. Trump decide to follow through on his threats to completely withdraw American assistance.

The prime minister had barely enjoyed the afterglow of his unexpectedly successful trip to the White House on Thursday before Mr. Zelenskyy’s visit unraveled in such a dramatic manner.

Now, the prime minister’s position as Mr. Trump’s new favorite (complete with the “lovely accent”) will face a much more immediate test than anyone anticipated.

Can the prime minister utilize their unique rapport to advocate for Mr. Zelenskyy and restore American support for Ukraine?

He has often mentioned his intention to serve as a conduit between Europe and the US. However, this task is becoming increasingly challenging as the two regions find themselves at odds.