Keir Starmer has spoken out after US Vice President JD Vance was accused of disrespecting British troops as he commented on the war in Ukraine.
Donald Trump's sidekick recently told Fox News that Ukraine giving the US economic interests in their country was the best security guarantee against Russian invasion.
However, other countries - the UK and France specifically - have pledged to send thousands of peacekeeping troops to Ukraine to provide security guarantees in the event that a ceasefire can be agreed in order to ward off future Russian invasions.
LAD: Who Killed Jeffrey Epstein?
However, in his interview with Fox News the vice president said that to 'give Americans economic upside in the future of Ukraine' was a far better security guarantee 'than 20,000 troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years'.
Vance's comments prompted widespread condemnation, and a spokesperson for Sir Keir Starmer said that the PM and the UK at large was 'full of admiration for all British troops who have served, for instance, in Iraq and Afghanistan, many of whom have lost their lives in the process, and have fought, alongside allies including the United States'.
Vance backtracked on the comments and claimed on Twitter that it was 'absurdly dishonest' to suggest that his comments on a country that would send peacekeeping troops referred to either of the two countries that said they'd send peacekeeping troops.
Today (5 March) the prime minister addressed the House of Commons for the weekly session of Prime Minister's Questions and opened with a statement paying tribute to members of the armed forces who died fighting alongside the UK's allies.
.jpg)
.jpg)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is seeking security guarantees to protect his country from future Russian invasions (Peter Nicholls/Getty Images)
He said: "Tomorrow marks 13 years since six young British soldiers were on patrol in Afghanistan when their vehicle was struck by an explosive tragically killing them all.
"These men fought and died for their country, our country. And across the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, 642 individuals died fighting for Britain alongside our allies, many more were wounded.
“We will never forget their bravery and their sacrifice, and I know the whole House will join (with) me in remembering them and all those who serve our country."
He was later asked by Liberal Democrat MP Richard Foord to 'remind the US Government' that British troops had fought and died in wars in which the US had asked for the UK's help.
The UK and France have both said they'd put troops in Ukraine to keep any peace that can be made (Justin Tallis - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Foord specifically referred to Vance's comments about 'some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years' in his question.
The prime minister said: "We do remember the role that we’ve played historically with our allies and we particularly remember those that made the ultimate sacrifice in that duty for their country, and for our allies, and that’s why it’s so important that we make that point today."
A number of other politicians in the UK have slated Vance for his comments, with Lib Dem defence spokesperson Helen Maguire, who served in Iraq, accusing Trump's number two of 'erasing from history the hundreds of British troops who gave their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan'.
JD Vance received widespread condemnation for his comments, which he has since rowed back on (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
"I saw firsthand how American and British soldiers fought bravely together shoulder to shoulder. Six of my own regiment, the Royal Military Police, didn’t return home from Iraq," she said as she called on the UK's ambassador to the US to get an apology from Vance.
Meanwhile, Tory MP and former veterans minister Johnny Mercer branded Vance a 'clown' and said he needed to 'check his privilege'.
Mercer said: "I read JD Vance’s book, making the mistake of finding him quite interesting. By his own admission he spent his time in the Marines ‘writing articles and taking pictures’.
"Perhaps if he had got his hands dirty serving his country like so many of his fellow American and British veterans, chasing his own country’s crazy foreign policy ideas, he might not be so quick to dismiss their sacrifice."
It would seem that JD Vance has achieved quite the political feat, uniting people from across the spectrum of British politics in their distaste for him.
Featured Image Credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
Topics: UK News, US News, Politics, Keir Starmer, JD Vance, Ukraine, Donald Trump
Joe Harker
Updated 12:40 5 Mar 2025 GMTPublished 12:50 4 Mar 2025 GMT
Keir Starmer responds after Trump’s Vice President JD Vance 'brutally mocked UK' in bizarre rant
The US Vice President had complained about 'a random country that hasn't fought a war in 30 years'
Keir Starmer has responded after US Vice President JD Vance hit out at 'a random country that hasn't fought a war in 30 years'.
The Prime Minister was over in Washington DC recently to talk to Vance and US President Donald Trump, but after Starmer's visit the White House received Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and things didn't go so well.
Vance made an 'embarrassing' comment towards Zelenskyy, and to put it mildly the situation deteriorated as the Ukrainian President was asked if he had ever said 'thank you' for the aid sent to his country (he had, many times) and was chastised for not wearing a suit.
Other world leaders have spoken in support of the Ukrainian leader, who for three years now has defended his country from Russian aggression, and an emergency summit was held in London over the weekend in which many nations spoke of their commitment to help Ukraine.
Starmer and Zelenskyy embraced outside Downing Street when they met.
Efforts to step up and replace US aid for Ukraine, which the Trump administration has paused today (4 March), were criticised by Vance.
JD Vance hit out at the UK, Keir Starmer has responded (JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Starmer has been talking about building a 'coalition of the willing' to provide security guarantees to Ukraine, including a plan for peacekeeping troops to be sent there after the conflict to ensure war does not break out again.
Vance dismissed Starmer's plan, telling Fox News the best security guarantee was to 'give Americans economic upside in the future of Ukraine' in reference to a deal which would grant the US rights to billions worth of minerals.
He said: "That is a way better security guarantee than 20,000 troops from some random country that hasn't fought a war in 30 or 40 years."
Given that suggestions of security guarantees and peacekeeping troops have come from Starmer, many thought Vance was referring to the UK with his remarks.
Anyone with a cursory knowledge of the past few decades would know that the UK has fought wars in that time, often alongside the US as an ally.
Vance later claimed that he wasn't talking about either the UK or France, writing in a tweet that it was 'absurdly dishonest' to say that he had been.
Starmer and Zelenskyy met in London at the weekend for a summit (Peter Nicholls/Getty Images)
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said: "The Prime Minister, and I think this whole country, is full of admiration for all British troops who have served, for instance, in Iraq and Afghanistan, many of whom have lost their lives in the process, and have fought, alongside allies including the United States.
“It’s very clear that their courage and bravery has helped to ensure global security, defend our values, defend our national interests.
"Our focus, once again, is on how we protect our national interests and global security by progressing the discussions to secure a lasting peace for Ukraine.”
Guardian journalist Pippa Crerar says that according to Downing Street, Starmer spoke with Donald Trump again recently and told his cabinet ministers that the US was an 'indispensable' ally.
His spokesperson also said: "The PM was clear that such a peace would need to be backed by strong security guarantees, including a coalition of the willing of those ready to defend and guarantee the peace with US backing to deter Putin from returning, and any deal must be based on a strong, sovereign and secure Ukraine."
Featured Image Credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Topics: Keir Starmer, Politics, UK News, US News, Ukraine, JD Vance
Joe Harker
Updated 12:40 5 Mar 2025 GMTPublished 14:27 4 Mar 2025 GMT
Trump's Vice President JD Vance breaks silence after being accused of brutally 'mocking' UK in bizarre rant
Which country were you talking about then, JD?
JD Vance has spoken out after he attracted widespread criticism for his comments on a possible peacekeeping force in Ukraine where he spoke of 'a random country that hasn't fought a war in 30 years'.
The US Vice President was called out for speaking to Fox News about possible security guarantees for Ukraine, where he yesterday (3 March) claimed that if the invaded country wants to be safe from future Russian aggression it should give the US economic reasons to care.
He said: "The president knows that if you want real security guarantees, if you want to actually ensure that Vladimir Putin does not invade Ukraine again, the very best security guarantee is to give Americans economic upside in the future of Ukraine.
“That is a way better security guarantee than 20,000 troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years.
"The security guarantee and also the economic guarantee for Ukraine is to rebuild the country and ensure that America has a long-term interest."
Vance has claimed he wasn't actually talking about the UK or France, so which country was it JD? (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
UK Prime Minster Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have both pledged to send thousands of peacekeeping troops to Ukraine as part of security guarantees for the nation, so one might expect that when JD Vance spoke of 'some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years' he was referring to either the UK or France.
However, Vance has rowed back to yesterday's comments and claimed on Twitter that it was 'absurdly dishonest' to suggest that his comments on a country that would send peacekeeping troops referred to either of the two countries that said they'd send peacekeeping troops.
He wrote: "This is absurdly dishonest.
"I don’t even mention the UK or France in the clip, both of whom have fought bravely alongside the US over the last 20 years, and beyond.
"But let’s be direct: there are many countries who are volunteering (privately or publicly) support who have neither the battlefield experience nor the military equipment to do anything meaningful."
Which country JD Vance was therefore referring to is unclear, as is the point he was trying to make if it's not directed at a particular country.
The United States just paused military aid to Ukraine, a move welcomed by the Russian invaders (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
A spokesperson for Starmer praised the work done by British troops, often fighting alongside the US, adding: "Our focus, once again, is on how we protect our national interests and global security by progressing the discussions to secure a lasting peace for Ukraine."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is still 'ready to sign' a deal which would grant the US rights to valuable mineral resources in Ukraine.
He said: "We need real peace and Ukrainians want it most because the war ruins our cities and towns.
"We lose our people. We need to stop the war and to guarantee security."
The US today (4 March) paused military aid to Ukraine, saying that help for the country in the face of Russian aggression would be 'reviewed' in order to 'ensure that it is contributing to a solution'.
America's decision to halt aid for Ukraine was welcomed by Russia, with Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov telling the BBC: "If the US stops, or pauses these supplies, this will probably be the best contribution to the cause of peace."
Russian attacks on Ukraine continue, as overnight they sent 99 drones targeting Odesa, Sumy and Donetsk, damaging power infrastructure and a children's medical facility.
Featured Image Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Topics: Politics, Russia, UK News, US News, Ukraine, World News, JD Vance
Joe Harker
Updated 11:57 5 Mar 2025 GMTPublished 11:52 5 Mar 2025 GMT
Russia releases statement after Donald Trump read out letter sent to him by Zelenskyy
The Ukrainian President claimed his country was 'ready to come to the negotiating table'
A Kremlin representative has spoken on Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s apparent willingness to negotiate with Russia after Donald Trump read out a letter from the Ukrainian President in Congress.
Last week (February 28), US President Trump and Vice President JD Vance met with Zelenskyy in the Oval Office to discuss Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia among other things.
The conversation escalated, with the Republican leader claiming the country did not ‘have the cards’ to rally against Vladimir Putin’s forces, and that Zelenskyy was ‘gambling with World War III’.
“You're gambling with the lives of millions of people", Trump said. "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."
Trump also promised to pause all military aid to Ukraine—a move Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said was the ‘best contribution to the cause of peace’.
Following Zelenskyy’s early exit from the White House and the cancellation of his and Trump’s joint press conference, the politician issued a letter to the 47th President of the United States.
This note was read out to Congress in Washington yesterday (March 4) and stated: “Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible.
“My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump's strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.
“We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence.”
President Donald Trump claims peace talks with Russia have previously taken place (Andrew Harnik/Getty Image)
Trump went on to read that Ukraine is also ‘ready’ to sign the agreement on rare earth minerals at ‘any’ time convenient to the US - an agreement they were supposed to sign during Zelenskyy's visit, before getting into a heated discussion.
“It's time to end this senseless war. If you want to end wars, you have to talk to both sides,” The Apprentice star remarked.
He also claimed there had already been ‘serious discussions’ about peace with Russia, but it is not known when these conversations took place.
Now, it appears Moscow is looking favourably on the Ukraine leader’s willingness to ‘come to the negotiating table’.
"We are positive. The question is with whom to sit at the negotiating table,” Peskov said.
He noted that it was not currently clear how these talks would take place, due to a 2022 decree declaring that Ukraine would not negotiate with Russian leader Putin.
“For now, the legal ban by the Ukrainian President holding talks with the Russian side is in force.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has issued a statement following the Ukranian’s letter (Sefa Karacan/Anadolu via Getty Images)
"Overall, the approach is positive, but the details have not changed yet."
Sky News reports that a Russian drone attack was launched last night (4 March) on the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa, killing a 77-year-old woman and injuring three others.
Regional governor Oleh Kiper said the woman died of shrapnel wounds on the outskirts of the city, and that the drones had damaged private homes and started fires.
In retaliation, Ukraine’s air force has stated it shot down 115 of the 181 drones fired in the overnight attack.
Featured Image Credit: MIKHAIL METZEL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, Russia, US News, Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, World News
Ella Scott
Updated 10:42 1 Mar 2025 GMTPublished 10:39 1 Mar 2025 GMT
Zelenskyy speaks out in interview and refuses to apologise after being accused of 'gambling with WW3' by Trump
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy were filmed in a heated exchange yesterday
After being accused of ‘gambling with World War III’ by Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke out in an interview.
The Ukrainian president didn’t apologise for the exchange as he said he wanted the US to ‘be more on our side’.
Trump and Vice President JD Vance met with Zelenskyy in the Oval Office yesterday (28 February) as talks descended into a heated argument.
He ended up leaving the White House early, putting plans for the US and Ukraine to sign a minerals agreement on hold with their joint press conference cancelled.
A video from the meeting features Trump telling Zelenskyy: “You either make a deal or we are out. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel.”
And he then slams: “You're not in a very good position, you've allowed yourself to be in a bad position... you don't have the cards right now... you're gambling with the lives of millions of people! You're gambling with World War III!"
Having taken to X afterwards to thank America for the ‘support’, Zelenskyy wrote: “Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that."
He also spoke out on the meeting in an interview with Fox News, saying he is confident the relationship with Trump can be salvaged.
“Because it's relations more than two presidents. It's the historical relations, strong relations between our people, and that's why I always began… to thank your people from our people," he explained.
Things got heated between the pair (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
“Of course, thankful to the president, and, of course, to Congress, but first of all, to your people. Your people helped save our people… we wanted very much to have all these strong relations, and where it counted, we will have it."
Zelenskyy said the whole exchange was ‘bad for both sides’ but that he is ‘not sure that we did something bad’.
“I just want to be honest, and I just want our partners to understand the situation correctly, and I want to understand everything correctly. That's about us not to lose our friendship," he added.
Trump also shared a statement about the tense meeting on his Truth Social platform.
Zelenskyy says he thinks things can be salvaged (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
He said: “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.
"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."
Former president and deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev also shared a shocking statement on X: “The insolent pig finally got a proper slap down in the Oval Office. And @realDonaldTrump is right: The Kiev regime is 'gambling with WWIII'."
Featured Image Credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Post a Comment