Sir Keir Starmer has held crisis talks over the phone with both Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump following their heated exchange in the White House.

Mr Zelenskyy travelled to Washington DC as he attempted to secure a ceasefire agreement with Russia and a possible mineral deal with the US.

But his visit ended prematurely – with the signing of an agreement and a joint press conference with Mr Trump cancelled following their clash in the Oval Office.

Ukraine latest: Russian official responds to White House meeting

After the extraordinary meeting, both Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy spoke to the media and gave their reactions.

Meanwhile, European leaders, including France’s Emmanuel Macron and Poland’s Donald Tusk shared their support for Ukraine.

And in a statement, a Downing Street spokesperson said Sir Keir had spoken to both Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy.

The spokesperson said: “He [Sir Keir] retains unwavering support for Ukraine, and is doing all he can to find a path forward to a lasting peace based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine.”

The spokesperson added that the prime minister was “looking forward” to welcoming Mr Zelenskyy to the UK for a summit of international leaders on Sunday.

‘Disrespectful’

As Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy met, with US vice president JD Vance joining them, tensions rose and a shouting match unfolded – all while cameras rolled and representatives from the media looked on.

The last 10 minutes of the almost 45-minute meeting descended into a tense back-and-forth, which began with Mr Vance telling Mr Zelenksyy: “I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.

“You should be thanking the President [Trump] for trying to bring an end to this conflict.”

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As the Ukrainian president tried to object, Mr Trump raised his voice and told him: “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people.

“You’re gambling with World War Three, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have.”

“You’re right now not in a very good position,” he continued. “You don’t have the cards right now with us, you start having problems right now.”

‘This will be great television,’ says Trump

At one point, Mr Vance blasted Mr Zelenskyy for airing “disagreements” in front of the media, but the US president remarked: “I think it’s good for the American people to see what’s going on.”

“You’re not acting at all thankful,” he said. “This is going to be great television.”

Defending himself and his country, the Ukrainian president openly challenged Mr Trump on his softer approach to Vladimir Putin and urged him to make “no compromises with a killer”.

This fiery spectacle was hard to witness

Deborah Haynes

Security and Defence Editor

@haynesdeborah

The fiery and very public bust-up between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a disaster for Ukraine and its European allies, and a triumph for Russia.

The spectacle of the US president berating his Ukrainian counterpart and telling him he is gambling with World War Three – played out on television from the Oval Office – was hard to witness.

Zelenskyy, looking increasingly uncomfortable, decided to fight back. He likely felt he had little choice but to defend himself and his war-torn country.

But this act of defiance drew even more condemnation from Trump as well as from JD Vance, who also started attacking the Ukrainian leader.

It is hard to imagine a greater contrast from the chummy scenes between Sir Keir Starmer and Trump and the scolding language used by the American president against Zelenskyy, at times addressing him as though he were a naughty schoolboy.

Ukraine’s president, his arms crossed, tried his best to speak up, but he was clearly fighting a losing battle. The extraordinary breakdown is far more serious than just a made-for-television drama.

American support for Ukraine is critical if Kyiv is to withstand Russia’s war. The UK, France and Ukraine’s other European allies have been working overtime to try to keep Trump on their side.

The US president has vowed to end the war and has started talks with Vladimir Putin. The two presidents also plan to meet. That alone was hard for Ukraine to witness.

But the Ukrainian side has attempted to work with Washington rather than against it, including by being willing to part with profits from its minerals and other natural resources in return for locking Trump into a long-term partnership with Ukraine.

That all looks to be shattered – or at best is in serious jeopardy.

If Trump, in anger, withdraws all his military support to Ukraine, Kyiv’s ability to withstand Russia’s military will be seriously diminished.

The Europeans lack the capability to fill the void. The only person who wins in this scenario is Vladimir Putin.

Posting on his Truth Social platform shortly after the clash, Mr Trump described the meeting as “very meaningful” and said: “Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure.

“It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations.”

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He continued: “I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”

Zelenskyy posts on X after early exit

Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy had been due to have lunch with their delegations in the White House’s cabinet room after the meeting – but untouched salad plates and other items were seen being packed up as the meal was hastily called off.

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Such was the gulf following the row that Mr Trump told the Ukrainian leader to leave the White House, according to a US official, with the minerals deal now stuck in limbo.

Having left the White House early, Mr Zelenskyy said in a post on X: “Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit.

“Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.”

Zelenskyy speaks to Fox News

What was supposed to be a victory lap on Fox News turned into disaster management for Mr Zelenskyy.

In an interview, he portrayed the meeting as a moment of frank and divergent views between the two but said he did not see the need to apologise.

He added he wished that Mr Trump was “more on our side” after the US president said he was in the middle of Ukraine and Russia.

“I want, really, him to be more on our side,” Mr Zelenskyy said. “It’s not just that the war began somewhere between our countries. The war began when Russia brought this war to our country. And they’re not right.”

Mr Zelenskyy also expressed a belief that the relationship could be salvaged.

Trump jets off to Florida – but not without a last word

After the White House row, Mr Trump later spoke to reporters as he left for a weekend at his Florida home.

“What he’s got to say is, ‘I want to make peace.’ He doesn’t have to stand there and say ‘Putin this, Putin that,’ all negative things. He’s got to say, ‘I want to make peace. I don’t want to fight a war anymore’,” Mr Trump said.

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev appeared to revel in the spectacle, writing on Telegram that the Ukrainian leader had received a “brutal dressing down”.

European leaders rally on social media

Meanwhile, in the fallout, European and world leaders were quick to rally and express their support for Mr Zelenskyy ahead of a summit in the UK on Sunday.

A number of leaders including Canada’s Justin Trudeau, France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Olaf Scholz all tweeted.

After the Ukrainian leader was criticised in the White House for insufficient thanks to the US, he thanked the leaders individually on X.

Mr Zelenskyy also spoke with Mr Macron, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte and EU Council president Antonio Costa by phone.

This all comes as on Sunday, Sir Keir Starmer is hosting a meeting of European leaders and Mr Zelenskyy to discuss any potential security backstop in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president was advised to wear a suit to the White House and Donald Trump was offended when he didn’t, according to reports.

Ahead of the historic meeting, Volodymyr Zelenskyy was advised by Trump’s team to ditch his usual military-style clothing for something more formal, Axios reports.

However, he didn’t, instead opting to wear all black.

This irritated Mr Trump ahead of what quickly became a car crash of a meeting, according to two sources who spoke to Axios.

Amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands, it was Mr Zelenskyy’s outfit that seemed to set the meeting off on a bad track.

As Mr Trump shook Mr Zelenskyy’s hand at the entrance to the West Wing, he said: “He is all dressed up today.”

Ukraine latest: Trump mocks ‘big shot’ Zelenskyy after fiery White House clash

Then, during the disastrous press conference, reporter Brian Glenn asked Mr Zelenskyy, “why don’t you wear a suit”, accusing him of having a lack of respect for America.

“I will wear a costume when this war is finished,” the Ukrainian leader responded. “Maybe something like yours. Maybe something better. Maybe something cheaper.”

In Ukrainian, the word “kostium” (pronounced ‘costume’) means “suit”.

Why doesn’t Zelenskyy wear a suit?

Mr Zelenskyy, who was elected in 2019, is often seen wearing olive green jumpers, emblazoned with the Ukrainian trident, alongside combat boots.

It is a signal to the world that his country is still at war. It reflects his solidarity with the armed forces and those fighting on the frontline.

The casual attire serves as a reminder that Ukraine is an active battlefield.

While Mr Zelenskyy did wear suits before the war, reflecting his role as head of state, he has stated he will not return to doing so until the war has ended.

In December, he wore a similar outfit for the reopening ceremony of Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, as well as for his meeting with then President-elect Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Many social media users were quick to point out that Elon Musk did not wear a suit during his recent visit to the Oval Office.

Images also began circulating of Winston Churchill visiting the White House during the Second World War, dressed in a wartime “siren suit”.

Churchill wore the one-piece air raid outfit during a visit to President Franklin D Roosevelt, in which he hoped to persuade the American public to join the war.

Ironically, a bust of Churchill was present in the room during the meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy, which ended in the Ukrainian leader leaving the White House without agreeing to the deal on minerals he had flown 5,000 miles to seal.

Mr Zelenskyy is now due to travel to the UK for a summit with European leaders on Sunday.

The Ukrainian president has refused to apologise for the fiery Oval Office spat with Donald Trump that saw him leave the White House early.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy travelled to Washington DC as he was due to clinch a deal on minerals with the US on Friday.

But the final ten minutes of a meeting in front of the world’s media saw tensions rise and a shouting match unfold.

Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy had been due to have lunch with their delegations in the White House’s cabinet room after the meeting – but untouched salad plates and other items were seen being packed up as the meal was hastily called off and Mr Zelenskyy left the White House.

Ukraine latest: Trump’s ‘big shot’ put-down

Mr Trump later said that he had “determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations”.

In a later interview with Fox News, Mr Zelenskyy admitted his public spat with the president and Vice President JD Vance was “not good for both sides”.

He was asked by the interviewer whether he owed an apology to Mr Trump and Mr Vance, bit sidestepped the question.

“I’m very thankful for all your support.. I was always very thankful to your people,” Mr Zelenskyy said.

When pressed, he said: “I’m not sure that we did something bad”.

The interview was supposed to be a victory lap on MAGA’s favourite TV channel, but the interview turned into disaster management for Mr Zelenskyy.

In an interview, he portrayed the meeting as a moment of frank and divergent views between the two but said he did not see the need to apologise.

He added he wished that Mr Trump was “more on our side” after the US president said he was in the middle of Ukraine and Russia.

“I want, really, him to be more on our side,” Mr Zelenskyy said. “It’s not just that the war began somewhere between our countries. The war began when Russia brought this war to our country. And they’re not right.”

Ukraine’s future ‘difficult’ without US support

Mr Zelenskyy also expressed a belief that the relationship could be salvaged.

He said, however, that his American counterpart needed to understand that Ukraine could not change its attitude on Russia, and would not enter peace talks without security guarantees.

“Everybody (is) afraid Putin will come back tomorrow,” Mr Zelenskyy said. “We want just and lasting peace.”

He acknowledged that without US support, his country’s position would grow “difficult.”

After repeatedly declining opportunities to apologise, Mr Zelenskyy closed his Fox appearance by saying: “We are thankful and sorry for this. I mean this, we wanted very much to have strong relations.”

‘A big shot’

Mr Trump said talks with Mr Zelenskyy “did not work out great from his standpoint” and mockingly called him a “big shot”.

The US leader also said the US was not looking for a “10-year war”.

“He wants to come back right now,” Trump said, adding “I can’t do that”.

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Speaking to Fox News, Mr Zelenskyy denied he had asked to come back to the White House.

In a statement posted on Telegram on Saturday morning, Mr Zelenskyy has said it is “very important” that Ukraine is “heard and not forgotten” following his meeting with Donald Trump.

“People in Ukraine need to know that they are not alone, that their interests are represented in every country, in every corner of the world.”