Sir Keir Starmer has taken a subtle jab at Donald Trump’s claim about Volodymyr Zelensky being a “dictator”.
The 47th President, who blocked Ukrainian officials from attending “peace negotiations” in Saudi Arabia yesterday, launched a 232-word attack against Zelensky on Truth Social earlier this afternoon.
Trump claimed Ukraine “talked” the US into spending $350billion (£280billion) bankrolling an “unwinnable war”.
He also claimed Zelensky is doing a “terrible job”, adding: “A dictator without elections, Zelensky better move fast or he is not going to have a country left.”
However, Starmer reiterated his support for Zelensky in a phone call this evening.
Shortly after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch dismissed Trump’s claim, a Downing Street spokesman said: “The Prime Minister spoke to President Zelensky this evening and stressed the need for everyone to work together.
“The Prime Minister expressed his support for President Zelensky as Ukraine’s democratically elected leader and said that it was perfectly reasonable to suspend elections during war time as the UK did during World War II.
“The Prime Minister reiterated his support for the US-led efforts to get a lasting peace in Ukraine that deterred Russia from any future aggression.”