Keir Starmer breaks his silence in interview over Trump 'World War 3' warning to Zelenskyy

Keir Starmer has broken his silence over Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s heated exchange on Friday (28 February).

Recorded at the Oval Office, the US president accused the Ukrainian president of ‘gambling with World War III’. Zelenskyy ended up leaving the White House early, later saying he was ‘thankful to the president’ and confident that their relationship can be salvaged.

The Ukrainian then arrived in the UK yesterday where he met with the Prime Minister at Downing Street. And Starmer appeared on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg as he said Trump and Zelenskyy’s clash made him feel ‘uncomfortable’.

“Nobody wants to see that,” he said of the two leaders’ exchange, adding: “Clearly, you know, there’s a lot of tension. The cameras were on.”

The labour leader said the important thing is ‘how to react to that’.

“There are a number of different routes people could go down. One is to ramp up the rhetoric as to how outraged we all are or not,” Starmer explained.

Starmer met with Zelenskyy on Saturday. (Peter Nicholls/Getty Images)

“The other is to do what I did, which is roll up my sleeves, pick up the phone, talk to President Trump, talk to President Zelenskyy, then invite President Zelenskyy for an extensive meeting yesterday, a warm welcome, and then further pick up the phone to President Macron and President Trump afterwards.”

The Prime Minister said his reaction was: “We have to bridge this. We have to find a way that we can all work together. Because, in the end, we’ve had three years of bloody conflict. Now we need to get to that lasting peace.”

Trump had strong words for Zelenskyy. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Speaking of Trump, he added: “I am clear in my mind that he does want a lasting peace.”

As the world reacts to the tense exchange between Zelenskyy and the US president, Starmer explained that it has been agreed that the UK along with France ‘and possibly one or two others’ will now work with Ukraine ‘on a plan to stop the fighting’.

“And then we’ll discuss that plan with the United States,” he added.

After accusing Zelenskyy of ‘gambling with the lives of millions of people’, Trump shared a statement on his Truth Social platform.

“We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure,” he wrote.

"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.

“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."