Helen Corbett, Press Association Political Correspondent
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has said it is the UK’s responsibility to bring the US and Ukraine “back together” amid a fresh rift between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky over Washington’s diesel deal with Russia.
The US president said it was “time for Ukraine to get a new president” after Mr Zelensky objected to the US deal to obtain millions of tonnes of diesel from Russia, saying it would extend the war.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has reiterated his “complete solidarity” in a call with the Ukrainian leader and plans to meet him in person in the coming days.
Mr Streeting told Sky News: “In terms of the exchange between President Trump and President Zelensky, it is not the first time we’ve seen these sorts of tensions between Kyiv and Washington.
“Our approach, our role, our responsibility in this situation is to try and bring our friends back together.”
Mr Trump is under pressure to bring down fuel prices ahead of November’s midterm elections that will decide control of Congress.
Diesel prices have rocketed in recent months because of the disruption to global supplies caused by the US-Israel war against Iran and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Mr Streeting said: “Let’s be candid about this: midterms are coming up, cost of living is an issue.
“No doubt President Trump is feeling the same pressure that lots of leaders are facing in terms of wanting to ease cost-of-living pressures, energy prices.”
Mr Streeting also sought to play down the effect the move has on US support for Ukraine, saying people should not “overstate the impact”.
He told the BBC: “We actually do a lot of procurement with and through the United States to support Ukraine with things like missile defences.
“There is clearly a big effort being led by the United States on the diplomatic track.
“So, let’s not overstate the impact of President Trump’s decision on purchasing oil from Russia, and let’s not also understate US support for Ukraine.
“What we want to see, though, is maximum unity across Ukraine’s allies and it’s in that context that we’re trying to increase economic pressure on Russia, not to give President Putin any sense of a weakening of Western resolve, which remains absolute.”
The UK has pledged to maintain pressure on Russia through tough sanctions after the move from Mr Trump, which comes after the US leader signed a sweeping Russia sanctions law just last month aimed at clamping down on the oil and gas revenues that fuel Moscow’s war against Ukraine.
The Prime Minister told Mr Zelensky he recognised it had been a “difficult” 24 hours for Ukraine when they spoke on Saturday and pledged the UK would take further action to “constrain the Russian war machine”.
Mr Zelensky had criticised Mr Trump’s deal, saying it “plays into Russia’s hands” and would prolong the war.
The US president, meanwhile, lashed out at the Ukrainian leader on Saturday, suggesting Mr Zelensky had not done enough to end the war with Russia.
Speaking at the White House, he said: “I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal″, adding that “for some reason (Zelensky) never does”.
He added: “I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president.”
Elections have been suspended in Ukraine since the war broke out in 2022 and the country was put under martial law.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said Mr Trump was “wrong” to make the deal with Russia and for his comments about the Ukrainian leader.
She said: “Ukraine’s freedom is not President Trump’s to bargain away.
“He is wrong to ease sanctions on Russian diesel, wrong to blame President Zelensky for prolonging Putin’s war and wrong to undermine a nation fighting for its right to exist.
“Russia is the aggressor. Always has been. Reward Russia and we should expect to see more aggression, including from other countries.
“We can also kiss goodbye to any just and lasting peace. This is why Conservatives have stood with Ukraine against Putin. Ukraine’s future belongs to Ukrainians.
“They alone have the right to choose their president and we stand with President Zelensky because he fights not for himself, but for the survival of his country and his people.”
The post UK must bring US and Ukraine ‘back together’ amid diesel deal, Streeting says appeared first on Nation.Cymru.