Volodymyr Zelensky: Jim Chalmers backs ‘hero’ Ukrainian President; Britain signs $4.6bn Ukraine deal

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he “trusts” both Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky and believes that the war in Ukraine can be brought to an end.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he “trusts” both Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky and believes that the US president “wants lasting peace and I agree with him on that”.

Speaking to the BBC on Sunday morning ahead of an emergency European leaders’ emergency summit in London, Sir Keir said he is confident the war in Ukraine can be brought to an end.

“We now believe that the United Kingdom along with France, and possibly one or two others, will work with Ukraine on a plan to stop the fighting and then we’ll discuss that plan with the United States,” he said.

Sir Keir said he watched the spat between Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky at the Oval Office from his office on Friday night and shortly after made calls to both leaders.

“In those calls on Friday night, with the meeting yesterday (with Mr Zelensky) and the calls again last night I think we’ve got a step in the right direction,” he said on Sunday.

“As I’ve said, nobody wants to see what happened on Friday but it’s really important that we keep our central focus which is lasting peace in Ukraine”.

Asked if he trusts Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky, Sir Keir said he does but he could not say the same for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Well, no, I wouldn’t trust Putin which is why I want a security guarantee,” Sir Keir said.

“I wouldn’t trust him to not come again because he’s proven that he will come again, he’s already done it, we know what his ambitions are.

“I believe there’s a risk that Putin will come again if he’s given the opportunity to do so and I think we need to shut that opportunity out”.

Mr Zelensky was earlier met with a warm embrace by Sir Keir – just 24 hours after his heated clash with US President Donald Trump.

The UK government has also signed a £2.3bn ($A4.66bn) agreement with Ukraine for military support and European leaders are due to meet in London on Sunday to discuss how the nation can try and reach a peace deal with Russia.

It was an honour to welcome @ZelenskyyUa to Downing Street and reiterate my unwavering support for Ukraine.

I am determined to find a path that ends Russia's illegal war and ensures a just and lasting peace that secures Ukraine’s future sovereignty and security.

Slava Ukraini. pic.twitter.com/N2EQfYKoBi

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) March 1, 2025

Mr Zelensky arrived at 10 Downing Street in London in a motorcade of Range Rover vehicles just after 5pm on Saturday evening (Sunday 4am AEDT) to be met by Sir Keir who walked down the street to greet him with a hug and handshake.

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer hugs Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky outside 10 Downing Street after he arrives to attend a bilateral meeting. Picture: AFP

The encounter by the two leaders was in stark contrast to the screaming match Mr Zelensky had with Mr Trump at the Oval Office the day before and where the US President accused him of “gambling with World War Three”.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was warmly welcomed to 10 Downing Street. Picture: Getty Images

Mr Zelensky took part in a one-hour meeting with Sir Keir who said “we stand with Ukraine” in the ongoing war with Russia.

CHALMERS BACKS UKRAINE, ZELENSKY TO MEET KING

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has described Mr Zelensky as “a hero”, saying Australia “couldn’t be more supportive” of the Ukrainian President.

Mr Chalmers told Sky News that Mr Zelensky was the democratically elected leader of a “very courageous country”, which was standing up to Russian aggression, and the Ukrainian President “would go down in history” for his bravery in his position.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has been met with a warm embrace by British PM Sir Keir Starmer. The pair had a one-hour meeting ahead of the European leaders’ meeting to take place in London on Sunday. @theheraldsun@dailytelegraph@couriermail@[e-mail]/tuEtNtJWln

— Sophie Elsworth (@sophieelsworth) March 1, 2025

Military assistance to Ukraine was “under constant review”, the Treasurer said, on top of the current total of $1.5 billion, with $1.3 billion allocated to military assistance.

“We’ve been very enthusiastic, very willing supporters of the military effort in Ukraine, we keep that under constant review,” Mr Chalmers said.

“When we can afford to do that, given all our other priorities in the budget, we try and do what we can.”

The Ukrainian leader is due to meet with King Charles III on Sunday evening in London after it is understood an invitation was extended to him to visit the royal family’s royal estate at Sandringham.

The pair shake hands during their talks. Picture: Getty Images

The warm welcome came after Volodymyr Zelensky’s fiery encounter with Donald Trump at the White House. Picture: AFP

The pair during their bilateral meeting, which comes ahead of an emergency security summit. Picture: Getty Images

Late last week Sir Keir invited Mr Trump for an “unprecedented” second state visit to the UK which has now caused controversy to whether this invitation should be withdrawn following the trainwreck encounter between Mr Zelensky and Mr Trump at the Oval Office.

During the meeting on Saturday the British PM told Mr Zelensky: “You’re very, very welcome here in Downing Street.

London. A meaningful and warm meeting with Prime Minister @Keir_Starmer.

During our talks, we discussed the challenges facing Ukraine and all of Europe, coordination with partners, concrete steps to strengthen Ukraine’s position, and ending the war with a just peace, along with… pic.twitter.com/IAwcPgbhYW

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 1, 2025

“As you heard from the cheers on the street outside, you have the full backing across the United Kingdom.

“And we stand with you, with Ukraine for as long as it takes and I hope you heard some of that cheering in the street”.

Mr Zelensky replied: “I saw a lot of people and I want to thank you, the people of the United Kingdom, for such big support from the very beginning of this war.”

NATO chief Mark Rutte told the BBC on the weekend that Mr Zelensky must take urgent steps to “restore his relationship with the American president and with the senior American leadership team”.

Originally published as Volodymyr Zelensky: Jim Chalmers backs ‘hero’ Ukrainian President; Britain signs $4.6bn Ukraine deal