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British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has embraced Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the steps of Downing Avenue as he launched an try to bolster the Ukrainian president after his explosive encounter with Donald Trump.
Starmer spoke to Trump and Zelenskyy by telephone after Friday’s bust-up within the Oval Workplace and urged them to renew talks, together with finalising a deal to permit the US to share a few of Ukraine’s mineral wealth, in accordance with individuals briefed on the conversations.
On Saturday Starmer gave a public present of help to Zelenskyy, who was greeted by cheering from members of the general public as he arrived in Downing Avenue, telling him he had the “full backing” of the UK.
“You heard the individuals of the UK popping out to show how a lot they help you and that we’re completely decided to face with you,” Starmer mentioned, forward of personal talks.
Zelenskyy’s reception in Downing Avenue was in marked distinction to his hostile encounter with Trump the day earlier than within the White Home. The Ukraine president, who will meet King Charles on Sunday, advised Starmer that “we rely in your help”.
Starmer will host 14 European leaders in London on Sunday in a bid to rally army and monetary help for Ukraine, together with offering assist to safe a peace with Russia.
The British prime minister, who has already provided to place British troops on the bottom in Ukraine after any ceasefire, hopes that a number of different European nations will comply with go well with, in accordance with European diplomats.
Starmer will impress upon Zelenskyy throughout Saturday’s assembly that he should first patch up relations with Trump and that any peace is not going to final except it’s assured by the US, British officers mentioned.
“The prime minister’s precedence is to do no matter it takes to defend Ukraine,” mentioned one ally of Starmer. “Which means the US needs to be concerned. You’ve got to repair that relationship and get again to the minerals deal.”
France has additionally provided troops to assist safe a peace in Ukraine; Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron will use Sunday’s assembly to attempt to galvanise a extra muscular European response.
One British official steered it was time that different European leaders put their cash the place their mouth was: “What Ukraine wants now’s weapons and butter. It doesn’t want individuals tweeting and advantage signalling.”
Starmer desires Europe to place Ukraine in a powerful place for talks with Russia — together with arming Kyiv and toughening sanctions on Moscow — and to attract up a viable plan for securing any peace deal.
The British prime minister held heat talks with Trump within the White Home on Thursday — simply 24 hours earlier than Zelenskyy clashed with a livid US president and the vice-president JD Vance.
British officers don’t consider that Starmer’s efforts had been in useless or that he was performed in any means by the US president. One mentioned: “Our relationship with the president is healthier than it was at first of the week and that’s essential.
“What occurred with Zelenskyy within the Oval Workplace makes it much more essential than ever that the PM and Macron went to the White Home.
“Ukraine wants armaments, meals, long-term peace and safety ensures. And for that they want the US. Individuals can tweet no matter they like, however there isn’t any different plan.”
One other British official mentioned: “The PM will carry individuals collectively and politely be sure they realise that there’s just one negotiation on the town — and that’s President Trump’s.”
Downing Avenue is anticipating attendees at Sunday’s summit to incorporate Olaf Scholz of Germany, Giorgia Meloni of Italy and Donald Tusk of Poland, in addition to Ursula von der Leyen, European Fee president, and Mark Rutte, Nato secretary-general.
The summit will happen at Lancaster Home, a nineteenth century mansion near Buckingham Palace in central London. Starmer may also maintain calls with the leaders of the three Baltic states.
A French official mentioned final week that early indications had been that the UK and France had been probably to offer the most important contingents in any post-truce stabilisation pressure, however there could be provides of assist from a few of the Baltic states and maybe Sweden.
Germany and Poland, which each help Ukraine, are among the many international locations which have up to now not provided to ship troops to the war-stricken nation to assist safe any peace deal.
