Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Donald Trump and Keir Starmer to meet and find common ground, warning that divisions among Western allies could undermine both Ukraine’s war effort and broader geopolitical stability.
In an interview following talks with Starmer in London, Zelensky said he would not dictate actions to Trump but stressed the need for both leaders to “re-load the relationship” and develop a shared position amid escalating tensions.
“I would really like President Trump to meet with Starmer, so that they have a common position,” Zelensky said, expressing concern over the growing strain between the United States and the United Kingdom.
The call comes against the backdrop of an intensifying diplomatic fallout linked to the conflict involving Iran, triggered by US and Israeli strikes. The crisis has spilled into disagreements among NATO allies, with Trump criticising Starmer’s leadership and approach to military involvement.
In his latest remarks, Trump described Starmer as “no Winston Churchill,” adding that while he considered him a “nice man,” he remained disappointed in his leadership.
Starmer, however, maintained a firm stance, reiterating that the UK would not be drawn into a wider war and emphasising the “enduring” nature of US-UK relations through statements from Downing Street.
Zelensky warned that the conflict in the Middle East could have serious consequences for Ukraine, revealing he had a “very bad feeling” about its impact. He noted that efforts toward peace in Ukraine were being “constantly postponed,” attributing delays directly to the Iran conflict.
“There is one reason war in Iran,” he said, underscoring fears that shifting global attention could weaken support for Ukraine’s defence against Russia’s ongoing invasion.
Starmer hosted Zelensky at Downing Street as part of the Ukrainian leader’s diplomatic tour of European capitals. Zelensky had earlier visited Paris and is scheduled to travel to Madrid, seeking to sustain international backing as the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year.
“I think it’s really important that we are clear that the focus must remain on Ukraine,” Starmer said.
During his visit, Zelensky also addressed UK lawmakers at Westminster, where he drew parallels between Russia and Iran, describing both governments as aligned in hostility.
“The regimes in Russia and Iran are brothers in hatred and that is why they are brothers in weapons,” he said. “We want regimes built on hatred to never, never win in anything.”
The address was attended by senior officials, including NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and UK Defence Secretary John Healey, alongside opposition leaders, reflecting the high-level concern over the widening geopolitical crisis.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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