Senior UK minister Pat McFadden has highlighted the importance of a constructive relationship between the UK and the United States ahead of significant meetings between UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, US President Donald Trump, and French President Emmanuel Macron. McFadden, addressing a fringe event at the Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow, stated that the UK is "potentially in a good position" with the current US administration, provided it "handles it correctly."
Sir Keir Starmer is preparing for a challenging visit to Washington next week, amid growing tensions regarding the US approach to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. President Trump has recently initiated negotiations with Russia aimed at bringing an end to the war but notably excluded Ukraine from these discussions, which has drawn significant criticism from UK political leaders.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey expressed deep concerns, accusing Trump of attempting a “stitch-up” with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which he described as a “betrayal of Ukraine.” Davey urged Starmer to confront Trump with honesty about the implications of such negotiations, arguing that if the Prime Minister does not share these concerns, he is failing to reflect the views of the British public.
In light of these developments, McFadden emphasised the necessity for the UK government to prioritise practical outcomes over reacting to every comment from Trump. He stated, “Handling it correctly doesn’t mean following every twist and turn of every comment, but is focusing on what will actually happen as well as what was said.”
The political landscape has become more complex with Trump’s recent remarks about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, where he stated on a Fox News podcast that Zelensky had "been in the meetings for three years and nothing got done." He further claimed that both Starmer and Macron had also failed to achieve significant progress towards ending the war, asserting, "They haven’t done anything."
Furthermore, tensions appear to be escalating between the US and Ukraine, as Trump described Zelensky in less than flattering terms, labelling him a “dictator.” This comment has spurred strong reactions, particularly after Zelensky accused Trump of being influenced by Russian disinformation. The disputes have culminated in the cancellation of a planned joint press conference in Kyiv, signalling a deepening rift between the nations.
Elon Musk, who is currently advising Trump on federal spending, added to the controversy by questioning the legitimacy of Zelensky's leadership, describing the Ukrainian administration as a “fraud machine” capitalising on the war. Nonetheless, Trump’s Ukraine envoy, retired General Keith Kellogg, has publicly praised Zelensky, calling him an “embattled and courageous leader of a nation at war,” and noted the positive discussions held between the two.
Sir Keir Starmer's upcoming visit to the White House follows President Macron's meeting with Trump, scheduled for Monday, where Macron plans to stress the importance of a strong stance against Putin. In a recent social media Q&A session, Macron articulated the importance of demonstrating strength in international affairs, questioning, “How can you then be credible in the face of China if you’re weak in the face of Putin?”
The events of the upcoming week are likely to be closely scrutinised as global leaders navigate the delicate balance of diplomacy and ongoing support for Ukraine amidst a backdrop of shifting allegiances and rhetoric.
Source: Noah Wire Services