Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has broken his silence after an explosive row with Donald Trump and JD Vance in the Oval Office: ‘Trump is not interested in Ukraine, he just wants the minerals it has. I don’t understand the US role in this at all. If Trump wants out we should get out. All of it. But somehow we go from talk of ending the war to raw materials? And chairing negotiations without key negotiators from both sides? Trumps policy on this makes no sense. Its a “business deal” in the middle of a war. We either have national security interests in this or we don’t! He should make up his mind and the policy should be to … CONTINUE READING

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has broken his silence after an explosive row with Donald Trump and JD Vance in the Oval Office: ‘Trump is not interested in Ukraine, he just wants the minerals it has. I don’t understand the US role in this at all. If Trump wants out we should get out. All of it. But somehow we go from talk of ending the war to raw materials? And chairing negotiations without key negotiators from both sides? Trumps policy on this makes no sense. Its a “business deal” in the middle of a war. We either have national security interests in this or we don’t! He should make up his mind and the policy should be to … CONTINUE READING

Friday’s drama in the Oval Office sparked a swift reaction from many world leaders. But not from Vladimir Putin. There’s been no comment so far from the Kremlin leader.

Then again, he doesn’t really need to say anything. President Putin can afford to sit back and watch events unfold.

Donald Trump predicted that the very public spat with President Zelensky was “going to be great television” and there’s little doubt that Vladimir Putin will have enjoyed the “show”.

Some Russian officials have commented, though, on events in Washington.

In a post on social media, former president Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy head of the Russian security council, wrote that President Zelensky had received “a slap down in the Oval Office”. He called on the US to stop military assistance to Ukraine.
We can now bring you the latest comments from Reform UK leader and Trump ally, Nigel Farage.

Posting on X, Farage says the “spat in the White House” on Friday was “regrettable” and “will make Putin feel like the winner”.

The MP adds this was “not the end of the story” though and that a peace deal “with the right security guarantees” for Ukraine is “essential”.

What, if anything, can be salvaged from the diplomatic ruins?

European leaders will gather in London tomorrow to see what can be done to chart a way forward. The prime minister, who says talk of choosing between Europe and the US is a false choice, will try to forge a common European position – no easy task.

He’s expected to ask other leaders to join the UK and France in promising military support for a reassurance force in post-war Ukraine.

But the hurdles are high: Trump trusts President Putin, he wants to restore US relations with Russia and he sees no need to guarantee Ukraine’s security after a ceasefire.

On all three points, Europe takes a different view.

The good news is that Trump has left open the door for resuming talks. In his social media post, he says Zelensky “can come back when he’s ready for peace”. Will Ukraine’s president be willing to eat some humble pie?

Diplomats may also try to revive the minerals deal, hoping that Trump’s anger at Zelensky can be outweighed by his greed for Ukraine’s resources.

But the fundamental question underpinning all these deliberations is whether the transatlantic alliance can be revived or whether last night’s confrontation left it beyond repair?

The answer is not clear. But it will be if the US pulls the plug on its military aid to Ukraine.