Keir Starmer/Photo: Reuters
In an interview with The New York Times published on 23 March 2025, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke about pressure from the White House to sharply criticise Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after his dispute with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. This statement shed light on the behind-the-scenes diplomatic manoeuvres that unfolded after the tense meeting between the leaders.
“On a day when the Oval Office meeting between President Trump and President Zelensky didn’t go well, we were under pressure to be very critical, to use, you know, colourful adjectives to describe how others felt,” Starmer said. He added that instead of making public accusations, he preferred to take the initiative and try to mitigate the conflict. “I decided it was better to pick up the phone and talk to both sides,” the prime minister explained.
According to Starmer, he did not succumb to pressure and chose the path of reconciliation. He sent his national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, to Kyiv to advise Zelenskyy on how to resolve the situation with Trump. Powell’s mission appears to have been successful: after the consultations in Kyiv, Starmer called Trump to inform him of the progress and pave the way for a direct conversation between the American and Ukrainian presidents.
In the end, Zelenskyy expressed support for Trump’s peacemaking efforts during the phone call, a step towards reducing tensions between the two leaders. This episode highlighted Starmer’s role as a mediator seeking to keep the dialogue between Washington and Kyiv alive during a difficult period.
The Oval Office dispute earlier this year attracted global attention due to Trump’s harsh statements against Zelenskyy and his calls for gratitude for US support. In contrast, Zelenskyy defended Ukraine’s position, stressing the need for strong security guarantees. Thanks to the British prime minister’s efforts, the conflict appears to have been partially resolved, although the future of US-Ukraine relations remains in doubt.
The situation also demonstrated how European leaders, including Starmer, are trying to balance support for Ukraine with maintaining constructive relations with the new US administration. All of this is happening against the backdrop of the ongoing war with Russia, where every diplomatic decision has significant consequences.
