British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke by phone last night with the presidents of the US and Ukraine - Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, and is looking forward to “welcoming foreign leaders, including Zelensky, tomorrow for a meeting dedicated to Ukraine at “Downing Street“ 10, a British government spokesman said, quoted by Reuters.
“He confirmed his unwavering support for Ukraine and will play his part in paving the way for a lasting peace based on Ukraine's sovereignty and security“, the spokesman added.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that “if anyone is playing World War III, it is Vladimir Putin“, not Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as the Ukrainian leader was accused last night during a meeting at the White House by US President Donald Trump, Agence France-Presse reported.
“If there is a single person who we have all heard threatening us with nuclear weapons who is playing World War III, we should not look for him in Kiev. "We should rather look for it in Moscow," Macron said in an interview with Portuguese TV channels Erte Pe 1 and Erte Pe 3 during his visit to Portugal.
American Republicans rejoiced today at the extremely sharp exchange of remarks between US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, while Democrats expressed concerns that Trump was pouring grist into the mill of Russian President Vladimir Putin, reported Agence France-Presse.
“I am glad that we have a president and a vice president in their positions who absolutely put America first“, said Republican Senator Jim Justice.
“Good job done by Donald Trump and our Vice President J.D. Vance“, said Republican Congressman Tim Burchett. You have to "show respect to get respect," he added, presumably addressing Volodymyr Zelensky.
A staunch supporter of Kiev until now, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham expressed regret on Fox News for the missed opportunity to conclude an agreement between Ukraine and the United States and criticized Volodymyr Zelensky's attitude towards Donald Trump. He did, however, have a friendly conversation with the Ukrainian president yesterday morning.
“Zelensky is going to have to fundamentally change, or he is going to have to go“, Graham said, adding: “I have never been more proud of President Trump“.
Among the only critical voices among Republicans was that of Congressman Don Bacon, a staunch supporter of aid to Ukraine.
The United States must “absolutely have moral clarity about who this bloodthirsty dictator really is“, he said of Russian President Vladimir Putin, sharing a post about the murder of Russian opposition figure Boris Nemtsov 10 years ago.
Democrats in Congress, for their part, expressed their alarm.
“Shame. Shame. Shame“, said Senator Brian Schatz.
The Democratic minority leader in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, said that Donald Trump and J.D. Vance are doing Putin's “dirty work“.
“The US president is a loan shark and a puppet of Vladimir Putin“, accused Trump of being a Democrat, Congressman Seth Moulton.
“Trump will always put his personal financial interests above our national security“, said Moulton's running mate, Congresswoman Judy Chu.