Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to join European leaders at a White House meeting with President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday, hoping to exploit his curious relationship with Trump to advance Ukraine's interests. Starmer has positioned himself as a bridge between US and European interests, consistently stressing Europe's red lines on any peace plan while seeking US security guarantees.
Recent months have seen Starmer engage with Trump at the G7, in the Oval Office, and during Trump's visit to Scotland. He has even arranged a second state visit invitation from the King. These efforts have yielded praise from Trump, though diplomatic risks remain high, as evidenced by the earlier humiliation of Zelenskyy in the Oval Office and Trump's abrupt departure from the G7 summit.
Monday's talks could be derailed by reports that Trump is considering Putin's suggestion of Ukrainian territorial concessions for peace, a move Zelenskyy and European leaders have ruled out. Despite the uncertainties, Starmer views engagement with Trump as essential, given the cross-party consensus in the UK supporting Ukraine.
While Trump receives careful treatment from No 10, Zelenskyy is genuinely cherished, as shown by his private meeting with King Charles after the White House incident. Starmer's public deference to Trump may seem jarring, but his cautious approach has secured relatively light US tariffs on the UK. Now, he faces the challenge of pulling Trump from Putin's orbit on Ukraine.
