United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are reportedly considering a joint return to Washington, D.C., in tandem with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelensky traveled to the United States last week to meet with President Donald Trump and finalize a long-term U.S.-Ukraine agreement. But that trip turned into a disaster when they got into an argument in front of cameras in the Oval Office that led to Zelensky being kicked out of the White House and his delegation leaving with no deal signed.
Both sides are still pursuing the agreement and Zelensky has signaled privately and publicly that he’s ready to make the deal, which could prompt another trip to Washington in the coming days or weeks.
The Trump administration has publicly pivoted away from Ukraine and urged Europe to make up the difference. Both Macron and Starmer, who have visited Trump in Washington D.C. in recent weeks, have emerged as leaders of this effort. A new report from the British-based Daily Telegraph suggests the British and French leaders could actually travel with Zelensky for a follow-up meeting with Trump.
A British diplomatic source familiar with the situation told the Washington Examiner that while there is “intensive diplomatic coordination and phone calls” between the leaders, there are no current plans for Starmer and Macron to head to Washington together, although the source added everything is on the table.
The Elysee Palace also said another Macron visit to the U.S. is not “planned at this stage,” after a government spokesperson said such a visit was “under consideration,” and could occur in the “short term,” according to Anadolu Agency.
UK’S STARMER SAYS EUROPE AT CROSSROADS IN HISTORY AS WORLD LEADERS DISCUSS ENDING WAR IN UKRAINE
The blow-up in the Oval Office prompted the president to direct the Department of Defense to suspend military aid to Ukraine and to pause intelligence sharing between the two countries. Administration officials have indicated the president could reverse those decisions.
The Trump administration is actively seeking to broker a peace agreement to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, though it’s still unclear whether Russian leader Vladimir Putin would agree to end the war that he’s had the ability to end since he ordered its commencement years ago.