Earlier this week, a meeting between President Zelenskyy and Donald Trump did not go smoothly.
On February 28, the Ukrainian president traveled to Washington DC to meet President Trump and his vice president JD Vance.
In recent weeks, Trump extended invitations to several world leaders to visit the White House, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and France’s Emmanuel Macron.
While those meetings appeared to proceed smoothly, the exchange between Zelenskyy and Trump was different. Trump, aged 78, accused Zelenskyy of “gambling with World War 3” amid Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russia.
“You don’t have the cards right now,” Trump said to Zelenskyy. “With us, you start having cards … You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people! You’re gambling with World War 3! You’re gambling with World War 3. And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country — this country.”
Watch their intense discussion here:
Following the tense interaction, Mark Rutte, NATO’s secretary general, commented on the situation, calling it “unfortunate.”
Rutte expressed confidence that Trump was “committed to bring Ukraine to a durable peace” and fully supportive of NATO.
He also encouraged Zelenskyy to mend ties with the US president.
Reflecting on a phone conversation he had with the Ukrainian leader, Rutte said: “What I told to President Zelenskyy is that I said, I think you have to find a way, dear Volodymyr, to restore your relationship with Donald Trump and the American administration.”
“That is important going forward.”
Zelenskyy is now in the UK, where he received a warm reception from Starmer, who assured him of “full backing across the United Kingdom.”
“Let me just say that you’re very, very welcome here in Downing Street,” Starmer told the Ukrainian President, who has been engaged in conflict with Russia for three years.
Starmer continued: “That is the people of the United Kingdom coming out to demonstrate how much they support you, how much they support Ukraine, and our absolute determination to stand with you – unwavering determination – and to achieve what we both want to achieve, which is a lasting peace.”
“A lasting peace for Ukraine based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine – so important for Ukraine, so important for Europe, and so important for the United Kingdom,” the British prime minister added.
During his visit to England, Zelenskyy is expected to meet with King Charles today (March 2).