{"id":144212,"date":"2025-03-01T11:00:09","date_gmt":"2025-03-01T11:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.politics.co.uk\/?p=144212"},"modified":"2025-03-03T11:14:15","modified_gmt":"2025-03-03T11:14:15","slug":"week-in-review-how-the-trump-zelenskyy-debacle-unravelled-and-where-it-leaves-starmer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politics.co.uk\/week-in-review\/2025\/03\/01\/week-in-review-how-the-trump-zelenskyy-debacle-unravelled-and-where-it-leaves-starmer\/","title":{"rendered":"How the Trump-Zelenskyy debacle unravelled \u2014 and where it leaves Starmer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Donald Trump<\/a>\u2019s performance, together with that of vice president Vance and his White House media coterie, had all the qualities of an ambush.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Volodymyr Zelenksyy arrived, like Keir Starmer<\/a> and French president Emmanuel Macron before him, with Trump hovering in the West Wing entrance. The US president immediately drew attention to his Ukrainian counterpart’s simple, military-style attire. It was a premeditated troll. \u201cOh look, you\u2019re all dressed up\u201d, he remarked in a mocking tone. Trump waved to the cameras and then pointed back at Zelenskyy: \u201cHe\u2019s all dressed up!\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump raised a fist. His famous thumbs-up stance, a gesture that could be interpreted\u00a0<\/span>by nervous world leaders as a sign of docility, did not emerge as it had for Macron and Starmer. A pat on the back suggested it was time for Zelenskyy to enter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Ukrainian president obliged. The spectacle had begun. The trap was set.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Zelenksyy took his place in the Oval Office, sitting in the same chair as Macron and Starmer before him. Trump began by touting the minerals deal that the meeting had been convened to formalise; he praised the bravery of Ukrainian soldiers but reiterated his call for an unconditional ceasefire.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have had some very good discussions with Russia\u201d, the US president declared in his opening statement. \u201cI spoke with president Putin, and we\u2019re going to try and bring this to a close.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s something that you want and that he wants. We\u2019re going to have to negotiate a deal\u2026 I think something can happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zelenskyy shared images of Ukrainian prisoners of war held by Russia. Trump displayed minimal interest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

***This content first appeared in Politics.co.uk\u2019s Week-in-Review newsletter, <\/i>sign up for free<\/i><\/a>\u00a0and never miss this article.***<\/i><\/p>\n

At around the eight-minute mark, reporters began firing questions. First they focused on the details of the raw materials deal, before pivoting to the nature of US support for Ukraine. Therein came the first instance of disagreement. Trump stressed the level of US financial backing delivered under the last administration. Zelenskyy countered by pointing to the significance of European support.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEurope really helped\u201d, he said. \u201cPresident Trump said that they made less support, but they are our friends and they are our supportive partners. They really gave a lot, Mr President.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Trump replied: \u201cThey did. But they gave much less \u2014 much less\u201d. Both leaders laughed off the apparent dispute. \u201cWe\u2019re not arguing!\u201d, Trump clarified jokingly as he tapped Zelenskyy\u2019s knee.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A few minutes later, a reporter asked what \u201ccompromises\u201d Trump could exact from the Ukrainian government to secure a peace deal. \u201cYou can\u2019t do any deals without compromises. So certainly he\u2019s going to have to make some compromises\u201d, the US president responded.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Trump described his role in the process as that of an \u201carbitrator\u201d or \u201cmediator\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He added: \u201cSo all I can do is see if I can get everybody at the table and get an agreement. And I think we\u2019re going to end up with an agreement, otherwise I wouldn\u2019t probably be even here today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zelenskyy paused for a beat before attempting to respond himself. But Trump had already pointed to a new reporter<\/a> huddled to his left. Zelenskyy lifted his hands above his knees in apparent exasperation \u2014 there was a subtle head shake and an existential glance towards the ceiling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The question, directed at Trump, came from a sycophant: \u201cDo you think ultimately your legacy will be the peacemaker and not the president that led this country into another war, and ended foreign wars?\u201d<\/p>\n

The US president responded: \u201cI hope it will. I mean, I hope I\u2019m going to be remembered as a peacemaker. This would be a great thing if we could do this. I\u2019m doing this to save lives, more than anything else. Second, is to save a lot of money \u2014 but I consider that to be far less important.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cThank you Brian for that question. It was a nice question\u2026 You know, this could lead to a third world war, this was headed in the wrong direction. If we didn\u2019t win this election, and by the way we won by a lot \u2014 it was a mandate \u2014 the popular vote by millions and millions of votes \u2014 we won everything, the districts, look at the areas of [Republican] red, take a look at a map. This was a big mandate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd this was one of the things \u2014 I said we\u2019re going to get this thing settled. If we didn\u2019t win, this could very well have ended up in a third world war. And that would not have been a good situation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump gestures back to the reporter \u2014 it is Brian Glenn of the MAGA media outlet Real America’s Voice<\/em>, whom the president has made a member of the White House press corps. Glenn is currently dating Trump loyalist congresswoman Marjorie Taylor-Greene, and was notably granted the first question at the US president\u2019s press conference with Macron on Monday.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Glenn\u2019s second inquiry was destined for Zelenskyy. \u201cDo you ever \u2014 why don\u2019t you wear a suit? Why don\u2019t you wear a suit? You are at the highest level in this country\u2019s office, and you refuse to wear a suit \u2014 do you own a suit?\u201d<\/p>\n

***This content first appeared in Politics.co.uk\u2019s Week-in-Review newsletter, <\/i>sign up for free<\/i><\/a>\u00a0and never miss this article.***<\/i><\/p>\n

Trump smirks as an ill-tempered exchange ensues between Zelenskyy and Glenn. \u201cI will wear a costume after this war is finished\u201d, the Ukrainian president responded. \u201cMaybe something like yours, yes, maybe something better I don\u2019t know, we\u2019ll see \u2014 maybe something cheaper.\u201d<\/p>\n

Glenn: \u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zelenskyy: \u201cThank you<\/i>.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the next notable development, CNN<\/i>\u2019s Kaitlan Collins presses Trump on whether he will agree to security guarantees in the event of a peace deal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He says: \u201cI don\u2019t want to talk about security yet, because I want to get the deal done \u2014 you fall into the same trap as everyone else\u2026 I want to get the deal done\u2026 the security is the easy part\u2026we\u2019ll have workers there digging, digging, digging<\/i>, taking the raw earth, so that we can create a lot of great product in this country.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo in that sense, you have something.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump adds: \u201cI don\u2019t think you are going to need much security, I think once this deal gets done, it\u2019s over. Russia\u2019s not gonna want to go back and nobody\u2019s going to want to go back. When this deal ends. I really believe this deal is \u2014 is going to be over.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zelenskyy shakes his head throughout Trump\u2019s answer. He attempts to comment, but Trump cuts him off \u2014 clearly conscious of the Ukraine president\u2019s intention to speak. He points to another reporter. Zelenskyy throws his right hand in the air; a gesture of despair. His body language begins to reflect the more belligerent footing the conversation has adopted.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The next question comes from another Trump sycophant. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou had [Emmanuel] Macron and Keir Starmer<\/a> at the White House this past week both of whom praised your courage and conviction to lead the pathway towards peace.<\/p>\n

“Part of that involved though, reengaging with Russia in diplomatic relations \u2014 something that previous leaders lacked the conviction to do so. What gave you the moral courage and conviction to step forward and lead that?”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Zelenskyy tilts his head and directs his eyes to the reporter when Putin is mentioned. He remains steel-faced as Trump responds: \u201cBoy, I love this guy\u2026 One America News<\/i> does a great job. I like the question.\u201d<\/p>\n

He adds: \u201cIt\u2019s a pathway to peace\u2026 You know, we’re very much involved. We got involved. It’s too bad we got involved. Because there should have been no involvement, because there should have been no war \u2014 and there shouldn’t have been 7 October. That would have never happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

***This content first appeared in Politics.co.uk\u2019s Week-in-Review newsletter, <\/i>sign up for free<\/i><\/a>\u00a0and never miss this article.***<\/i><\/p>\n

Zelenskyy asserts himself \u2014 \u201cI can answer, please\u201d. Before he does, Trump refers back to the exchange about the Ukrainian president\u2019s attire. \u201cI do like your clothing by the way\u201d, he says, \u201cI think he’s a great guy by the way [talking about the Real America’s Voice <\/i>reporter].\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don’t know if you do like each other, but, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

There follows a long answer from Zelenskyy, expressing the need for a US security guarantee and Putin\u2019s history of ignoring negotiated settlements. \u201cWe can’t just speak about ceasefire and speak and speak. It will not work\u201d, he insists.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe broke his own signature, 25 times, he broke a ceasefire.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump contends: \u201cNever with me. He never broke it with me\u201d<\/p>\n

The Ukrainian president responds: \u201cNo, no, you were the president. In 2016, you were the president\u2026 That\u2019s why we will never accept just [a] ceasefire. It will not work without security guarantees.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zelenskyy and Trump field further questions \u2014 including one about free speech in the UK. Throughout, the US president disparages his predecessor, Joe Biden, and claims that he has \u201cstopped wars that nobody ever heard about.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zelenskyy undertakes to prosecute his case more forcefully: \u201cEurope is very important for us, because we really defend Europe for today, all Europeans really recognise that we are defending the line\u2026 and our people are dying. That’s why they helped us.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd also it’s about the need\u00a0 <\/span>\u2014 yes like the president said, you have big, nice ocean. But\u2026 Russia will go further, to Baltics and to Poland, by the way… It’s understandable for them, because they’ve been the USSR\u2026 Putin wants to bring them back to his empire.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s a fact. And when he will go there, if we will not stay, you will fight \u2014 your American soldiers. It doesn’t matter [if] you have ocean or not, your soldiers will fight.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Upon further questioning, Trump says he is unwilling to visit Ukraine because a lot of its cities \u201care not recognisable \u2014 there’s not a building standing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zelenskyy again contradicts his US counterpart. \u201cNo, no, no, we have very good cities. Yes, a lot of things [have] been destroyed, but mostly cities are alive, and people work, and children go to school.\u201d<\/p>\n

He suggests that Trump has been influenced by Kremlin propaganda: \u201cThis is very important, and maybe it’s Putin who is sharing this information that he destroyed us. He lost 700,000 people \u2014 700,000 soldiers.\u201d<\/p>\n

The US president is prompted more and more by reporters about his relationship with Putin. He reveals he has \u201cspoken to him on numerous occasions\u201d and that the latest call \u201cwent well\u201d.<\/p>\n

Trump adds: \u201cWell, if I didn’t align myself with both of them, you\u2019d never have a deal. You want me to say really terrible things about Putin and then say, \u2018Hi, Vladimir. How are we doing on the deal?\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn’t work that way. I’m not aligned with Putin. I’m not aligned with anybody. I’m aligned with the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n

He goes on, referring to Zelenskyy: \u201cYou see, the hatred he’s got for Putin. It’s very tough for me to make a deal with that kind of hate. He’s got tremendous hatred, and I understand that \u2014 but I can tell you the other side isn’t exactly in love with, you know, him either.\u201d<\/p>\n

***This content first appeared in Politics.co.uk\u2019s Week-in-Review newsletter, <\/i>sign up for free<\/i><\/a>\u00a0and never miss this article.***<\/i><\/p>\n

At this point, US vice-president JD Vance interjects: \u201cSo look, for four years [in] the United States of America, we had a president who stood up at press conferences and talked tough about Vladimir Putin, and then Putin invaded Ukraine and destroyed a significant chunk of the country.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe path to peace and the path to prosperity is maybe engaging in diplomacy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zelenskyy asks to respond to Vance directly, and the VP yields. A long question follows, in which the Ukrainian president reiterates Putin\u2019s record of exceeding the limits imposed on him by pacts. \u201cWhat kind of diplomacy, JD, are you speaking about? What do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

Vance escalates: \u201cI\u2019m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country. Mr. President, with respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRight now you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems. You should be thanking the president.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zelensky hits back: \u201cDuring the war, everybody has problems, even you. But you have a nice ocean and don’t feel [it] now, but you will feel it in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

That comment rankled Trump, prompting the US president to intervene. \u201cDon’t tell us what we’re going to feel. You’re in no position to dictate that\u201d, the US president asserted, his voice growing more irritated.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don’t have the cards right now. You\u2019re gambling with millions of lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zelensky returns once more: \u201cI\u2019m not playing cards.\u201d<\/p>\n

The conversation has, at this point, devolved into a full-scale row. Vance demands that Zelenskyy thank the US for its support; Zelenskyy insists he has done so many times; Trump slams Zelenskyy\u2019s \u201cattitude\u201d.<\/p>\n

Then, in a bizarre twist, the US president says he sympathises with the criticism Putin faced over accusations of Russian interference in the 2016 US election: \u201cHe had to go through that.\u201d<\/p>\n

He adds: \u201cIt came out of Hunter Biden\u2019s bathroom. It came out of Hunter Biden\u2019s bedroom. It was disgusting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gesturing to Zelenskyy, the US president concludes: \u201cThe problem is, I\u2019ve empowered you to be a tough guy. And I don\u2019t think you\u2019d be a tough guy without the United States\u2026 You are either going to make a deal, or we\u2019re out. And if we\u2019re out, you\u2019ll fight it out. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s going to be pretty\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you\u2019re not acting at all thankful and that\u2019s not a nice thing. And I\u2019ll be honest, that\u2019s not a nice thing. Alright, I think we\u2019ve seen enough, what do you think?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is going to be great television. I will say that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zelenskyy issues an ironic thumbs-up. Trump winks at an individual behind the camera. Vance slaps Trump\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n

The VP and president are pleased with their work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The ambush is quickly celebrated by administration officials and the president\u2019s online outriders. Elon Musk posts to X shortly after: \u201cTime to find out what really happened to the hundreds of billions of dollars sent to Ukraine.\u201d<\/p>\n

The reaction of stunned European leaders took slightly longer to roll in \u2014 but their support, when it did arrive, was overwhelming. Zelensky responded to the myriad statements with a simple message: \u201cThank you for your support\u201d.<\/p>\n

Those five words today appear over thirty times on his X feed.<\/p>\n

***This content first appeared in Politics.co.uk\u2019s Week-in-Review newsletter, <\/i>sign up for free<\/i><\/a>\u00a0and never miss this article.***<\/i><\/p>\n

Here in the UK, the saga prompted cross-party condemnation. Alicia Kearns, a Conservative MP and shadow minister, was one of the first to respond. She posted to X: \u201cZelenskyy is fighting for the survival of his people.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just witnessed what can only be described as bullying. Performative bullying for a domestic US audience. Just watching the video shamed me to my core. Utterly shaming.\u201d<\/p>\n

Simon Hoare, a Conservative MP and former minister, referred to a question he asked of the prime minister on Wednesday. \u201cAs I said in the commons\u2026 at PMQs<\/a>: the FORMER leader of the free world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said he was \u201csickened\u201d by the \u201cdegrading spectacle\u201d. Kemi Badenoch<\/a> was less straightforward with her choice of language. \u201cWe need to remember that the villain is the war criminal president Putin\u201d, she said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey responded to the Conservative leader\u2019s statement: \u201cFor someone who prides themself on being so \u2018direct\u2019, it\u2019s striking you still can\u2019t bring yourself to criticise president Trump directly\u201d.<\/p>\n

Davey had issued his own remarks calling out Trump and Vance\u2019s \u201cthuggery\u201d.<\/p>\n

Trade minister Douglas Alexander told BBC Radio 4<\/i> that not only were the scenes in the Oval Office \u201cdeeply troubling and sobering\u201d, he argued they demonstrated \u201cin the starkest possible terms\u201d the extent to which \u201cthe world we’ve all experienced for the last 80 years\u201d had changed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He also labelled Zelensky the \u201cbravest political leader in Europe since Winston Churchill\u201d.<\/p>\n

Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, finally responded on Saturday morning. He referred to the debacle as “regrettable”.<\/p>\n

For some time, the prime minister\u2019s quiet was also conspicuous. As Zelenskyy responded to messages of support from world leaders on X, the prime minister\u2019s views were expressed via a spokesperson.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe prime minister has tonight spoken to both president Trump and president Zelensky\u201d, the statement, issued at around 10.00 pm, read.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe retains unwavering support for Ukraine, and is doing all he can to find a path forward to a lasting peace based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe prime minister looks forward to hosting international leaders on Sunday including president Zelensky.\u201d<\/p>\n

The comment, its timing and the channel through which it was issued reflect the precariousness of Starmer\u2019s position as it relates to Ukraine and Trump. The prime minister\u2019s visit to Washington DC on Thursday was hailed as a personal and diplomatic triumph. Sceptics had doubted Starmer\u2019s ability to act as a \u201cbridge\u201d between the European continent and a White House as capricious as this. But Trump\u2019s seemingly sincere praise, his endorsement of the Chagos Islands deal and his suggestion that the UK could avoid being hit by tariffs \u2014 were all recorded as meaningful victories. An impetuous Vance had tried to ambush the prime minister on free speech, a sinister portent of his attack on Zelenskyy; but Starmer parried those attacks effectively. Meanwhile, the PM’s offer of a second, unprecedented state visit appeared to genuinely move Trump.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But Friday’s White House debacle has upended \u2014 in a singularly spectacular fashion \u2014 any diplomatic advances Starmer made this week. The US president has proved, once again, that he is untameable. He intends to end the Ukraine war by whatever means necessary \u2014 seemingly, on whatever terms are available. Right now, those are Putin\u2019s terms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The prime minister\u2019s statement yesterday evening suggests his ostensible strategy to operate as a transatlantic \u201cbridge\u201d persists. The summit of European leaders he is set to host on Sunday, attended by Zelenskyy, will test the opinion of one half of this formulation. Already, a view on the continent is hardening that Europe must achieve strategic \u201cindependence<\/a>\u201d from the White House \u2014\u00a0in both its current and future forms.<\/p>\n

It begs the question: where will Starmer stand if Trump decides he does not need a bridge to \u201cEurope\u201d \u2014 and Europe, simultaneously, seeks strategic \u201cindependence\u201d from the US?<\/p>\n

The situation is at once delicate, urgent and fast evolving.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Josh Self is Editor of Politics.co.uk, follow him on Bluesky <\/i>here<\/i><\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n

Politics.co.uk is the UK\u2019s leading digital-only political website. <\/i>Subscribe to our daily newsletter<\/i><\/a> for all the latest news and analysis.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Donald Trump\u2019s performance, together with that of vice president Vance and his White House media coterie, had all the qualities of an ambush.\u00a0 Volodymyr Zelenksyy arrived, like Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron before him, with Trump hovering in the West Wing entrance. 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The US president immediately drew attention to his Ukrainian counterpart’s simple,... 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