U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed previous remarks in which he reportedly referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a “dictator”, suggesting he does not recall making such a statement.

During an exchange with BBC political editor Chris Mason, Trump was asked whether he still believed Zelensky was a dictator. He responded:

“Did I say that? I can’t believe I would say that.”

The remarks come as Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets Trump in the White House, a day before Zelensky himself arrives in Washington to finalise a strategic agreement on sharing Ukraine’s mineral resources with the U.S.

Speaking to reporters from the Oval Office, Trump confirmed the upcoming meeting with Zelensky, speaking on the importance of rare earth minerals for America’s economy and security.

“President Zelensky is coming to see me on Friday morning,” Trump said. “And we’re going to be signing really a very important agreement for both sides because it’s really going to get us into that country, working there.”

He described the agreement as a “backstop”, though did not elaborate on its exact provisions.

Ukraine is home to significant reserves of rare earth minerals, which are crucial for defence, energy, and technology sectors. The agreement is likely to strengthen economic ties between Kyiv and Washington, particularly amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

While Trump’s stance on Ukraine has drawn scrutiny, the deal suggests a pragmatic approach to U.S.-Ukraine relations, focusing on economic cooperation and resource security.

With Starmer’s visit preceding Zelensky’s, the British Prime Minister’s engagement with Trump may indicate closer coordination between allies on security and economic issues related to Ukraine.

The UK has been a strong backer of Kyiv since Russia’s full-scale invasion, and Starmer’s discussions in Washington are expected to cover continued Western support.

Lisa West
Lisa West
Lisa has a degree in Media & Communication from Glasgow Caledonian University and works with industry news, sifting through press releases in addition to moderating website comments.

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149 COMMENTS

  1. Trump, Vance and Zelensky just about had a fist fight in the Oval Office. All the hard work by the British government and three think skinned TV celebrities blow it up in minutes.

      • I agree, it’s shitty, but unfortunately we live in a new world. Zelensky had to sit there and say nothing, this was all set up so US support could continue. Trump walked back some comments and a meaningless piece of paper was to be signed to satisfy the MAGA base. Zelenskyy blew it and the Ukrainian people will suffer.

        It’s shitty and it should not be like this but that’s it.

        Trump got everything he wanted out that meeting and I really don’t think it was set up that way.

          • Yes, that’s its, sign a piece of paper so a draft dodger can’t make a bunch of hicks who have never seen the ocean feel like they got something back for doing something good.

            Churchill had to do much the same.

            Act like America was saving the world by loaning money to the only country that was actually saving the world.

            Zelenskyy failed in this task and the only people that will suffer are Ukrainian.

        • How did Zelensky ‘blow it’? I did not pick up that he said anything disrespectful. Trump and Vance were disrespectful to Zelensky, that’s for sure.

          • Trump and Vance acted like bullies, I don’t think their joint behaviour impressed anyone outside of Russia. Trump has serious personality issues so plainly clear for all to see. What a mess.

    • Sorry but I don’t agree..Zelensky a second language managed to try and explain in a reasonable way what was incorrect while Vance literally shouted at him and trump got in clearly preplanned specific statements for the American audience..they utterly disrespected a county fighting for survival and their war dead, it was one of the most disgusting bits of politics I have ever seen.

      • And not a word of criticism for the wanker who actually started this war,if trump is so friendly with pootin all he has to do is phone him and tell HIM to stop that will stop the casualties!

        • Totally. All the death and destruction in Ukraine that Putin and his cohort are responsible for. And all this talk about “disrespecting the White House”, having no cards”, “not being thankful”, how about them showing respect for Ukraine and “its” president, its sovereign boarders and its people, alive, dead and injured and acknowledge the ongoing destruction! Maybe there’s another Trump real-estate type plan for Ukraine being planned. Russia obviously wants its influence on the world stage, access to the economic system and financial exchange and increase its “waterfront” on the Azov, Black, Baltic and Mediterranean seas which it is simultaneously trying to keep, expand on and getting squeezed. All this inflammatory talk of WW111 I think is hiding what a spot Putin is in. Trump wants to give him “a get out free card” and let him back into the G7, how will that even be possible when he has an international arrest warrant? Meanwhile the rest of the world watches on. Hope they’re watching out for any China moves too.

      • It’s just shocking. They have no interest other than their own ego and profile. No class, no diplomacy, no idea. How far the US has fallen.

    • The White House meeting was a total car crash. Zelensky looked tired, but should have known better than loosing his cool like that because it will only be counter productive… it’s clear that Trump and Vance hate him… and he doesn’t much like them. There’s more bad news… Europe is split on providing further support for Ukraine. Perhaps the best we can hope for right now is a ceasefire? It’s obvious that the US doesn’t care about Ukraine. It wants to normalise relations with Russia. Not a great day for Ukraine supporters.

      • People are dying and I’m afraid Trump is correct however unpalatable it was put. It is insane to say we can have US or European military in Ukraine without WW3. Before everyone starts I’m not a Putin apologist and I do Zelensky as a man and the brave Ukrainians. However, we have to realize that Ukraine is a buffer state between Russia and Europe. Our attention should be supporting the best peace deal with can get even if this means some of Ukraine is annexed. European and UK attention should then go to expanding the military. Clearly the UK needs to be looking at spending 5% of GDP on the military and this means cutting foreign to emergency aid (0.05% of GDP and rolled on each year if unspent) and with deep cuts to welfare and full reform of the NHS and funding devoted to growth and tax cuts for working people to stimulate growth in the economy. We also need to look carefully at raising the retirement age to probably 75 before the state pension kicks in.

        • Matthew..re retirement at 75..sorry but that’s not workable apart for a few very lucky professionals who have essentially low manual effort roles and have plenty of time for decision making…you cannot have a 75 year old acute nurse..I assure you its pretty marginal at 55..take it from an old nurse..you don’t want a ward or ED full of old nurses…most people are not capable of doing most jobs at 75..infact 40% of men are dead before they even get to 75 and only able to slowly rot in a box as a job. Of the 60% that are alive and kicking 86.5% are wandering around with significant long term health conditions…male average life expectancy ( 50% are dead) is only 78.6 and UK healthy average life expectancy for men is only 62.4..so by that age 50% of men have a long term significant health condition..

        • You do realise that pootin hasNOT respected ANY peace deal or ceasefire concerning Ukraine! Zelenskyy was trying to explain that to Vance but it was him being disrespectful in the Oval Office! Utter bollocks

        • My mates who died before even 65 will really thank you for pulling up the retirement ladder. One served in both the RN(On the CV) Ark Royal) & in the paras after that. Just over a year before he cpuld retire on his well earned pensions & the tears of hard life took him before any benefit of old age security came along.
          We are not “all living longer”, many of those who are poorer or had a life of hard graft are lucky if theu reach the rising retirement age.
          Funny how the prosperous & rich find it so brave & admirable to kick the poorest whenever money is tight.

        • Ah yes, paying for increased spending with tax cuts. Didn’t we try that not long ago? And why not just euthanize people at 70? After all, they’ve had a good innings…

        • Only a lifelong desk-jockey could think that retirement at 75 would be in any way feasible! Try telling that to people who work in hard physical jobs, out on building sites or in foundries and the like, most of us are physically knackered before we get to current retirement age as it is!!

          • Interesting China observer video on youtube posted in the last 19 hours. Chinese in Russia say the Russians have suddenly turned on them. Police wanting bribes/fines or threatening deportation. Also Chinese exports held up at the Russian border. Has Trump done a secret deal with Putin? If Russia drops China, the US will drop Ukraine?

          • I think MAGA has already dropped Ukraine… and, Europe. MAGA is pro Putin… “Last week, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the United States Cyber Command to halt any planning of actions against Russia, including offensive digital operations, three sources have told The Record. Hegseth reportedly gave the order to Cyber Command chief General Timothy Haugh, who then relayed it to his subordinates.”

      • Yes, trolling him for being ‘disrespectful’ and not ‘thanking’ the US for providing support, which Zelensky has done on multiple occasions. Much of it seems politically motivated by Democrat vs MAGA tribalism.

        • I think this is way beyond a Dem v MAGA thing (although I respect that you referred to them as MAGA rather than Republicans)

          • It’s a new era, that’s for sure. It will be bad for Europe. I’m not sure if Trump will reinvigorate US power, which he might, or accelerate its decline.

          • US power is gone, China is outmatching them on every metrics of manufacturing now. There only hope was Allie’s and trump blew that to pieces.

            It’s the UK’s role in the world to pick up the pieces and start again. Same as 1703, 1815, 1918 and 1940.

          • I think it’s a bit early to say that. The US is still incredibly powerful economically and militarily. Also China has huge problems like collapsing demographics, and economic plateau. Twenty years from now the Chinese will have the world’s largest Navy that needs replacing. The desire for power comes at a huge price. As troubling as it seems I think Trump wants to dump Europe for Russia.

          • About time we closed all US air and military bases throughout Europe and the UK then, send them back home and tell them if they want a military base on European soil to go ask their new pal Putin if they can have one near Moscow! 😁

          • Crazy times, that’s for sure. Nato feels pretty much dead… it’s just a club for buying US kit. For the Russians the message feels pretty much like… careful what you wish for – you might just get it.

        • Completely agree. ‘ Don’t be disrespectful to the manchild and kiss the ring, then maybe we won’t split Ukraine with Russia, but, no promises that we won’t do that even with a mineral deal’.

        • MAGA republicans deliberately help up desperately needed aid not long ago, costing more UKR blood & territory. Putin & Trump-Two peas in a pod. Despicable.

          • Just to add… our main problem IS Putin… And we are in an alliance with people who think Putin is wonderful. How does HMG square that?

          • held up, not help up. Doh, finally the edit button returns & I spot my mistake too late to correct.
            Indeed TWM, who’d have thought that decades of cutting forces to way below safe peacetime levels could encourage brutal dictators.

      • Because he is a Peter Tiel stooge and a Nazi sympathiser. He tried the same with Kier Starmer and got put back in his box. Zelenskyy fucked up and took the bate, walked into the trap laid for him by Vance and other Kremlin sympathisers.

    • Oh please. Keith didn’t contribute at all. Actually, no, he probably made it worse by sucking up to Trump so much, inflating his ego even more.

      Zelenskyy wasn’t being thin-skinned either. He should have tread on eggshells due to the egos and thin skins of Trump and Vance, but they clearly went in spoiling for a fight and spouted Kremlin lines.

    • Jim, is there any doubt that old Donnie is now Russian ally?
      … Ukraine is totally finished now after that Oval office fiasco. If I was Zee, I would have rough him up

    • A week is a long time in politics. In Trump it is an eternity. The Oval Office fiasco might carry on, or we could have a 180 in days. Who knows? Not even the Donald knows what he will say next.

    • European countries will step up…
      We have given more funding than the US
      and also the ordinary fundraising people give millions in civilian and direct military help
      We must tell the US to sod off

      • I agree that the UK and EU need to persevere, irrespective of the US attempts to negotiate with Putin.
        The USA is the largest single contributor, and has a bigger millitary instustrial capacity.

      • Was going to be a lot easier with the US onboard though. The British government did everything required to bring the US back to the fold, hold the western world together against the darkness and Zelenskyy blew it because he is to thin skinned to ignore a few jibes from a nuance like JD Vance.

        • From what I saw Zelensky wasn’t given the opportunity to get a word in edgeways! The whole charade was a deliberate set up by the orange clown and his crew of sycophants, the only disrespect on show came from them.

    • Ukraine will fight on for sure, they will just be looking for us to shoulder more of the Burden, as Ben Wallace had to tell Zelenskyy, we are not Amazon.

  4. Forget a US backstop, that idea is history. Europe will have to decide whether it is willing and able to step up. Ukraine desperately needs us to.

    • Trump made it clear for all to see that he is the opposite of an “Honest broker” in this peace deal. He doesn’t seenm to care who runs UKR, so long as he gets his cut.

  5. What I think we all just saw may go down in history as one of the most shameful events in US affairs. I just saw two power mad individuals essentially ambushing the president of a democracy fighting for its life, so they could get soundbites for a domestic audience…it is literally something out of the authoritarian play book..

    what is so worrying is the difference between the starmer visit and the Zelensky visit…now unless we think Starmer is some sort of psychic mind controlling genius the only difference was in power dynamics..we as a nation are not beholden to the US for our existence..Ukraine is and they just made it clear if your beholden to the US your nothing more than a slave that should be grateful for the air you breathe..

    I had some hope that we could retrieve and keep some sort of European US accords but I would say the evidence is all that is happening is that the US are trying to lever out and split the core European powers by treating them nice.

    The level of disrespect for a nation fighting for its life, literally made me feel sick…infact I don’t think I’ve never had such a reaction to a a political discourse before…

    I would say I’m almost sure nato will collapse at some point and a European defeat alliance is needed Almost immediately..I think we need to brace for a complete collapse of European US relations..and im not sure how we will be able to stand aside.

    • We were very much beholden to the USA in 1940; I would imagine any British PM would get the same treatment from Trump and Vance should the UK find itself in a similar predicament.
      The USA with these two incharge is not a reliable partner

    • I just think they baited him deliberately, they had a game plan and that’s pretty well been confirmed by Lindsey Graham that he advised Zielenski in advance to not rise to the bait.

      How did he know unless it was pre planned.🤷🏼‍♂️

      The reason is either to get all the resources and / or force Zielenskl to resign, the latter is probably one of Putins pre conditions for a ceasefire, in which case he gets his way.
      I am willing to bet that a message will be sent to the Ukrainian people via social media, he has to go and meanwhile your on your own.
      My concern is that right now I see absolutely nothing to deter Putin from using Tactical Nuclear weapons or NBC weapons to force the issue, the international system of checks and balances has publicly vanished.

      • Putin won’t raise the stakes to a Nuclear or Chem/Bio attack, he needs to give his asset Trump the appearence of credibility that peace can be achieved

      • Yes that was an orchestrated trap to publicly and to the world utterly destroyed him. It was profoundly disgusting and has I suspect driven a final nail in US European relations..we will just have to see what the fall out looks like…but in reality any peace organised by the US is essentially probably not going to be acceptable to the Europeans and Ukrainians…In reality Europe is going to have to throw everything it can to keep Ukraine fighting..to try and break Russian will, if Putin in mad enough to use nuclear weapons then essentially Ukraine is lost and we are heading for 5% GDP spend and European essentially planning how it can contain and then neutralise Russia without triggering a nuclear war….NATO would be gone as would any shred of US European collaboration in the world order other than as neutral trade partners. It would be a true uni polar world..with three core super power blocks..china , US , Europe and some floating powers.

      • How much has trump gone along with Putin wanting to install a Russian puppet in Ukraine? Trump obviously wants Zelensky removed.

          • Yes, and he was probably knackered from the long flight and little sleep, and the stress of leading a country three years into an existential war, and trying to debate a pair of pillocks in his THIRD language. He’s only human.

      • No one’s yet mentioned that (US?) correspondent who started the whole thing by immediately berating Zelensky for turning up to the meeting in combat clothing – ‘Disrespecting’ the Oval office and President Trump. ‘Should have worn a suit for the meeting’.
        Whoever that man was he clearly did not know the reasons why Zelensky wears combat clothing. He’s worn the same outfit when attending almost every European parliament and being welcomed by all the PMs and Presidents in Europe.
        I’m of the impression (right/wrong) that this pillock was set up to be the first attack dog and part of a deliberate plan to humiliate Zelensky.

    • I have just watched the meeting on BBC website, never seen anything like it, what planet are these clowns on?? Continuously asking for him to say thank you is ridiculous and not allowing him to answer and talking over him is just shocking, I would like to see them do the same to Putin, they wouldn’t tho cuz there big brass balls would soon shrink if they actually come across some one they couldn’t bully. He is a president asking another for help after an unjustified attack from a country ruled by a tyrant , how can Trump think he behave like this and still be respected. Slava Ukraini

    • Indeed.The last times that I was shocked at an international event was the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the Argentine invasion of the Falklands in 1982.
      Tonight was truly shocking. WW3 in the Oval Office!

  7. What ive just witnessed on the various channels and the reaction twitter by Ukrainians whom I fundraise for and with…
    Absolutely disgusting…

    Close to a brawl
    No wonder Zelensky walked out ….

    I warned against Zelensky going to the US

    What the hell are we doing associating with Trump and MAGA

    • Because in geopoliticals you dance with whichever devil supports your national interest..because national interest is all that matters…security and strength are all that matter, all that have ever matters..we forgot this in the madness that was “the end of history” now we are being reminded..lucky we are still strong and can rebuild our strength…trump has just shown what it means to be weak.

      Its why I how am a complete bleeding heart soggy liberal, think we should be friends with Saudi, why I think we should be trading and making profit from china even though I know they are frantic communists who will cause a Sino US war ( because they are doing that anyway and we may get as much wealth and strength from that relationship before china and the US tear each other new ones and we have to sanction china).

      But we now know what we know, the US is a predator that cannot be trusted as an ally…we be friends and sup with the devil, but we never put our head in a noose for them..ever..so out of the pacific power balance we go.

      • Yes, sad but unfortunately this is the world we live in now. Fortunately the UK is well positioned for such a world, possibly the best positioned country in the world

        Everyone that spent the last 50 years free riding in the rules based order is going to get a nasty shock.

  8. it was civil at first, then Vance threw a match and it all went to pot.
    Vance is despicable and trying to score points in front of the camera is going to cost a lot of lives
    very sad day

  9. Once you understand that Trump is compromised, nothing is shocking. Israel warned the US in 1994 that Russia had damaging stuff on him.

    • I’m begining to think Putin doesn’t need any dirt on Trump. Trump is simply that low & nasty that he loves the way Putin does buisiness.

      • Chinese in Russia, say Russians have suddenly turned on them. Has Trump done a deal with Putin? Russia drops China & the US drops Ukraine?

  10. Shameful. Utterly shameful. I just watched this and it disgusted me seeing Pres Zelensky being bullied the way he was by those two idiots. I really felt for him.

  12. I’ve never seen a more pitiful display than what trump and his sidekick did at the press conference. Completely shocked at how they tried shaking down a leader resisting an invading army. And for what? For minerals..

    • I agree, it was totally unprofessional and for my money showed the ‘Clown’ side of Trump. He’s out for a peace prize award, and naff all else. Vance… how or why he ever got into politics… probably for similar reason to Trump.

  13. Screw the Yanks. They’re now firmly in the axis of evil. They can feck off out of the UK. We wouldn’t station Russian squadrons here. The US could not possibly be relied upon to do anything even remotely in line with our values or interest. So absolutely no point them being here.

    Europe really really needs to get itself together and make ourselves equal to the Sovs and Yanks militarily and economically.

    That display by orange man and his minions was akin to watching the Sopranos.

    And are we really still going to give that senile orange nonce a state visit?

    • I think a state visit would allow British people to show what they think of Trump. Remember the hostile reception given to Chinese leader jiang in 1999.

    • It is only 4 years. Normal service will resume because of the mutual interest. The US would not support the UK over Suez, the UK did not support the US over Vietnam, yet the special relationship carried on.

  15. Utterly disgraceful behaviour from Trump and Vance, more appropriate to an episode of the Apprentice USA than a serious diplomatic discussion.
    Suggesting Zelensky is risking ww3 by resisting an attack by the murderous regime in Moscow is so far from reality that not even POTUS and his odious VP can really believe it – unless they are even more ignorant of post war history than seems possible.
    The immediate danger to Ukraine is obvious. The bigger risk is of emboldening Putin to launch further ” special operations” perhaps against a NATO member. That really could trigger ww3. AreTrump and Vance too stupid to see that danger?

  16. No real surprise.
    Trumps a Gemeni with a Leo ascendant. Leo’s love flattery.
    Vance is a Leo with a Leo ascendant. Incendiary.
    Zelwnski is an Aquarius.
    Total opposite signs, equals a clash.
    Starmer meanwhile went there and brown nosed nicely, typical of a Virgo with a Libra Moon. Good at diplomacy.
    Aquarians are not known for diplomacy.
    This analysis courtesy of my astrological loving wife.
    Me….Trump and Vance behaved appallingly.

    • Vance especially absolutely screams male insecurity. Him , Trump and Musk are the very opposites of an alpha male. Thin skinned snowflakes describes them accurately.

      • I dislike him a lot more than Trump.
        Two Presidents should be able to have space to speak, at this level it’s imperative.
        Even enemies can show respect.
        That he kept interrupting Zelenski telling him he’d not said thank you is like a bully schoolteacher talking down to a child.
        Another snippet from the wife, Zelenski has a Leo Moon, no wonder the Oval office exploded there were 3 Leo’s in there, and Aquarians are not known for backing down either!

        • Vance disgraced himself in that meeting, such small man energy. As for Trump, what else can you expect from a pig but grunts.

          • I was never interested in the crap you read in paper with the horoscopes.
            But my wife’s knowledge of real Astrology always inpresses me. The sign always seems to fit the character of the individual.
            This was toxic mix waiting to explode.

        • Vance is really not a man though, he is a gimp, there to make trump and Peter tiel feel more manly.

          If Trump was a medieval king Vance would be the jester.

          But what was Zelenskyy doing falling for the Jesters barbs.

          • Did you see the interview of Graham Lindsey who is close to a Trump, he has been to UKR numerous times and isn’t anti Zilenski. He actually spoke to him before the meeting and told him not to take the bait !
            This is a complete set up, and I suspect it’s down to Putin making it a pre condition to peace (Trump ego trip) no Zilenski so he can claim a victory.

          • Chinese in Russia, are saying the Russians have suddenly turned on them. Has Trump done a secret deal with Putin? Russia drops China & the US drops Ukraine?

          • Sadly Der Fuehrer and Goebbels had Zelensky in a catch 22. He couldn’t not go because he’d have no leg to stand on when the Orange Hitler decides to have a 1-1 talk with Putin.

  18. What I hope for now, is that Europe tells the US ‘get back in your box, dry up, and blow away’. Europe then needs to take the inactive, go for the deal on the minerals, and freeze the US out completely.

    Trump is playing with fire in his dealings with Putin, and is too arrogant to see it. Bye US… go and withdraw behind your own borders.

    • I’m no fan of Trump but to set the stage; Zelensky has been called out publicly by the likes of Ben Wallace over attitude and lack of gratitude. There were calls for elections to be resumed from European leaders before Trump got back in. There’s been serious disagreement with the likes of Poland over Zelensky’s trade demands.

      He obviously got a lot of leeway as a wartime leader facing seemingly impossible odds. 3 years on the fatigue sets in…

      Zelensky is stuck believing his own BS/image, an image crafted for him by the west, that of the new Churchill. Ukraine has not been alone, billions in support, constant intelligence sharing, millions of his people being homed in European nations. European nations cutting off Russia causing financial hardship for their own people. European militaries emptying their own supplies etc etc. Like it or not the US has also been the single largest contributor of money and military aid.

      Zelensky had a job to do for his people, sit there and smile while acting grateful for continued support and sign a dumb deal that would have been ripped up the second Trump was out of office. He failed that early allowing Vance to take swipes leading to whatever the hell that was.

      You aren’t gonna win an ego/”big I am” battle with any POTUS, especially Trump, the only one who believes his own BS with more conviction than Zelensky. By attempting to he’s annoyed all the European leaders who’ve been working on Trump, his own diplomats and yet again acted ungrateful for what the west has done.

      Our 3% needs moved forward, the US backstop may be gone. The UK and all of Europe needs to up funding for agriculture and energy as well as finding more funds for their own militaries and Ukraine, one of Europes breadbaskets may actually fall.

      • How can elections be ran with a sizeable chunk of the population under Russian control, hundreds of thousands serving in the military, many in the front line, feck knows how many have fled the country, Russian missiles targeting voting stations and Russian interference at all levels so they get their choice of president in power? It is totally unachievable!

        • Ask those in Europe who have supported him, that have also asked for elections. Unsurprisingly (reasons you mention) they didn’t happen and nothing really changed, almost as if those that asked were playing to their own interests. Point is that’s it’s not a new request or new Trump-only critique.

          It is however always going to be in the back pocket of NATO leaders when the next request for entry comes in. My money is on the US and Germany taking turns finding reasons to deny it.

          Starmer, who I dislike personally and who clearly hates Trump, played a blinder diplomatically, someone in the FCO did their homework and even more did their jobs. Trump pulled back on the dictator rhetoric, the meeting was arranged. There was talk of a peace deal with Ukraine actually included at the table. The European troops in Ukraine plan (which on this site was touted as a Trump plan before he took office) was given the nod with a small promise of US backing if needed. The minerals deal, which will end up not being worth the paper it’s inked on, was placed there so Trump could get a “really big deal” done and continue Ukraine support while getting more Republicans and US voters on board.

          Yet here we are wondering if it’s the end of US support. At a time when Europe as a whole is in no position to immediately or even near future pick up the full slack.

          Zelensky had chats with world leaders before his Fox News interview and got public statements of “unequivocal support”. He was far more humble and grateful to the US during the interview. That wasn’t a coincidence or a true change of heart, it’s a backtracking attempt, which other have demanded. I hope works but it’s Trumps ego so we need to plan for worst.

          At the end of the day he isn’t a Churchill, he’s the leader of a buffer country, a chance for NATO to wear down the Orcs without NATO blood. Three years on he needs to start realizing as much when he’s in the big meetings with the big countries. He has other meetings and interviews to play to his own people, his own legacy or his own ego.

          Trump is… well Trump. Yet Starmer and Macron managed to navigate him with ease despite neither being what you’d call a heavyweight statesman.

          • There’s got to be a potential problem with this “giving minerals” to the US? Aren’t the Russian forces literally occupying large areas of where significant areas of these minerals are? And as if they’re going to give that up anytime soon plus all the waterfront and port areas they’ve gained on the Asov. Maybe Trump is trying to engineer a way out for his friend with both trying to take their own advantages over Ukraine, its President and people.

          • The US will try to get the best for them, at least a few big headline grabbers in there that can be sold to the US population. Both “parliaments” will have to approve it though, so it won’t be that crazy.

            The fund’s value may never “recoup” aid given to Ukraine, it guarantees Ukraine will be rebuilt and that there will be oversight of vast amounts of resources. Ukraine is probably more concerned with that oversight part, it doesn’t have a great track record there.

            As for a lack of security guarantees, if peace is reached with Ukraine getting post-Crimea, pre-“special operations” borders back. Then the fact the Orcs would have to go through NATO member “peacekeepers” and then have to t **** with US assets, people, equipment, money etc. is a stronger guarantee than a new piece of paper to be honest.

            Ukraine wants endless streams of cash with no conditions, I can’t blame them at all, go for gold. That world however has never existed.

            If anything, the deal will be detrimental to the UK, remember when Boris got all those assurances it would be UK companies rebuilding Ukraine? Not worth the paper it wasn’t written on it seems.

  20. Trump fawns over a real psycopathic, warmongering, dictator Putin, but treats a heroic, once in a generation, fighter for democracy & freedom with some real backbone like some 3rd year kid he can slap around & steal his dinner money. Seems like Trump & Vance knew what they were doing, possibly enough to fool most of MAGA Trumpists, but they’ve blown their legs off as leaders of the free world in the process. Putin will say lovely things about Trump, no doubt.
    Trump couldn’t even succeed in stealing an election. More interested in pay back for/demonising everything Biden did for UKR & making himself & American super rich richer on UKR resources than actually doing any good.
    Got to adimire Zelenski’s restraint in the face of such toxic cruel idiocy & betrayal.
    I hope HMG/King Charles cancels that state visit & all decent Europeans back UKR to the hilt until Russia is driven out of UKR.

  23. That $300b in orc assets needs unlocking tomorrow and get it working supplying Ukraine!
    That will give Zelenskyy some ammo to tell trump to swivel! It’s really time for Europe to step up now and get serious!

    • Game over, Without US support Ukraine has nothing to do, Europe is a pure comedy and is totally irrelevant in today,s world, China and the U S. are the future, Russia has the raw materials, instead to fight and hate Russia you must cooperate to get cheap energy prices, you don,t want , ok, look to Germany as an example , totally in ruins.

  25. I couldn’t believe what i saw. I had to double check it wasn’t 1 April.

    My first reaction is starmer should call a special vote with no whips on an energency windfall one off tax on higher rate (which I am one) tax payers and larger corporation for aid for Ukraine. Let’s see which PM are in Putin pocket, hopefully 100% would vote in favour. Should be no party polictics in this, even farage surely can’t back trump after that.

    • The wealthy will never vote for more taxes on themselves. The Russians could be in the Thames and they’d still be bleating about blinking farmers.

      • Farmers are a distraction. The conservatives messed them over royally with Brexit and not replacing the EU grants and reform uk have no real policies just aims without how to achieve them. Mega rich won’t but I suspect the average voter would right now.

        • Wealthy investors need to be taxed out of buying up all the land, so actual farming families can afford to buy farms and farm it, increasing our food security.

  28. Never, ever has there been an Oval Office blow up like Old Donnie, Zee, JDV. Now the Alliances have, switched : Ukraine are the bad guys, Russia is now the good guys— with out any doubt. This disaster is historical. So, UK joins US/Israel against Ukraine/Europe?? Or Russia is still a threat to UK, which means we are against US/Israel? UK is on which side of the New World Order? Because the decision influences Australia, NZ, Canada. It is not my decision as it is above my pay grade, but I certainly hope King Charles does not host old Donnie

    • The Donald can turn on a sixpence. He can change his mind at least 100 times before a state visit to the UK. The King needs to bite his tongue & give the Donald the full Royal experience. Probably the only way to win him round.

  29. Ukraine needs to turn more to Europe (including the UK) and Europe needs to step up to the plate after today’s events in the oval office (lowercase lack of respect intended and deserved).
    .
    .

    If only the UK had critical mass to lead a European force to kick out the invaders, I am sure with the victors goes the spoils (post-war contracts for example), leave the yanks on the other side of ocean as the oompa loompa said (paraphrasing) for the next 3 years 10 months.
    .
    .
    Sad no advisor gets the ear (sic) of american leadership to point out it is a good deal for the usa for Ukraine to beat russia for the relativelly small cost of weapons (a lot of which the states replaces with newer iterations for their own forces and considering the overall budget) while not costing a single American life. Idiots.

    • The whole minerals thing is a nonsense concocted by Trump. Ukraine doesn’t have a particular large amount of any minerals and certainly not rare earths. There are rare earths all over the world, we have lots in Cornwall. We don’t mine them because they are not very valuable and no one other than China and Malaysia process them because they are an environmental disaster.

      • A UK university came up with a way of extracting rare earths from titanium dioxide. The usual Whitehall apathy meant nothing was done with it.

          • Its white paint pigment & mixed in there are rare earths. The article was on sciencedaily over a decade ago.

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