The UK can still trust the US with Ukraine’s future despite the bad-tempered clash at the White House between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a minister has said.
Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds told Sky’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips there was “no ambiguity” over whether the US continued to be an important ally for Britain despite the unpleasant scenes that unfolded in the Oval Office on Friday.
There are concerns among Western leaders that the exchange – which resulted in Mr Zelenskyy leaving empty-handed and without having signed an important minerals deal to continue US support – could result in the White House withdrawing aid for Ukraine’s war effort.
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But Mr Thomas-Symonds, who is also minister for the constitution and European Union relations, said he believed we could “still trust the Americans”.
And he said that in the event the US did pull financial support for Ukraine, the UK would “continue to be an honest broker” and “bring the different parties together”.
Echoing the US’s president’s language, he added: “We will also continue to make the case that peace is made from a position of strength, not a position of weakness.
“So, it remains critical to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position.”
On whether Britain could still trust the Americans, Mr Thomas-Symonds replied: “Yes, I do believe we can trust the Americans.
“We do have an ally in the United States that we can trust,” he continued. “There’s no ambiguity about that.”
Sir Keir Starmer’s desire to act as bridge between the US and Europe will be tested as he hosts a number of EU leaders for a summit in London.
Present will be the leaders of Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Finland, Denmark, Norway, the Czech Republic and Romania. Canada and Turkey will also attend.
The PM’s role as a peacemaker takes on greater significance following the breakdown in relations…
