Starmer Solidifies Support for Zelensky Following Trump’s Allegation of Dictatorial Behavior

On the day of the final 2019 Ukrainian presidential election, Getty Images captured a momentous image of President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Elena casting their votes. This act underscored the democratic process even amidst political turbulence.

In recent days, tensions have escalated following US President Donald Trump’s characterization of Zelensky as a “dictator.” In response to this criticism, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has stepped in to support his Ukrainian counterpart. According to Downing Street, Sir Keir reached out to Zelensky on Wednesday evening and assured him that it is entirely reasonable for Ukraine to suspend elections during wartime, citing the precedent set by Britain during World War Two.

Earlier, Trump had disparaged Zelensky’s performance in office, asserting that he had done a “terrible job” and claiming that he refuses to hold elections in Ukraine. However, this view is not shared by everyone. Russia’s Ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, has maintained his stance on behalf of his country, insisting that Zelensky should proceed with elections and rejecting any notion of foreign peacekeeping troops being stationed in Ukraine under a potential peace agreement.

Zelenskys presidential term was due to conclude in May 2024; however, the election process has been halted since martial law was declared following Russia’s invasion. During his conversation with Sir Keir, Zelensky expressed optimism about upcoming plans and opportunities while underscoring the significance of UK support for Ukraine.

In a tweet defending Zelensky, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch highlighted that he is “the democratically elected leader of Ukraine who bravely stood up to Putin’s illegal invasion.” However, Badenoch also acknowledged Trumps point about Europe needing to contribute more and called on Sir Keir to travel to Washington DC for a show of leadership. The UK Prime Minister plans to meet with Trump in the coming week, aiming to discuss what he refers to as a “US backstop” necessary to prevent future Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Trumps statements about Zelensky have drawn widespread criticism in the United Kingdom. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey emphasized that calling Zelensky a dictator represents an unacceptable boundary and expressed hope for unity among political parties to oppose Trump’s misinformation. Former Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson, on X (formerly Twitter), stated that “of course Ukraine didnt start the war” and suggested that Trumps comments were intended more to shock Europeans into action than to present historically accurate information.

Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat echoed support for Zelensky, comparing him favorably to former British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill in terms of dictatorial status. He also highlighted the Kremlin’s determination to dismantle US-built alliances aimed at enhancing Putins power.

The head of Britain’s foreign intelligence service MI6 has commented that Trumps statements are unfortunate and may embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to BBC Newsnight coverage. Furthermore, Russia’s ambassador in the UK has expressed doubt about whether Ukrainians would choose Zelensky as their next leader if elections were held.

In terms of potential peace agreements, discussions around foreign troops being deployed are contentious. The US Ambassador to Ukraine is optimistic that British troops could be involved provided there is a clear “backstop” from the United States. However, Russian officials have categorically ruled out such an arrangement under any circumstances.