Britain stands behind Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the defence secretary has said, after Donald Trump called for the Ukrainian president to be replaced and the US announced a controversial agreement to buy Russian diesel. Wes Streeting said Ukrainians alone should be able to decide who leads their country as he indicated Trump was facing domestic political pressure over fuel prices before next month’s midterm elections. Asked on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme whether Britain supported Zelenskyy staying in office, Streeting said: “We are in no doubt that the aggressor here was Vladimir Putin.
He is the person who chose to start this war. He is the person who could end this war tomorrow, and he chooses not to. So, we stand with Ukraine.
We stand with President Zelenskyy.” Trump said on Saturday that Ukraine should get a new leader capable of reaching a peace agreement, accusing Zelenskyy of failing to end the war and blaming Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries for increasing American diesel prices. Zelenskyy condemned the diesel agreement as a gift to Putin, warning that increased Russian energy revenues would help finance the war against Ukraine. Trump has been facing rising political pressure over the economic fallout from the war with Iran, which has driven up global energy prices weeks before Americans vote in the midterm elections.
Soaring fuel costs have hit Americans and added to wider inflation, damaging Trump’s standing with voters. The squeeze is felt particularly in agricultural states such as Iowa, Kansas, Texas and Ohio where farmers depend on diesel to operate machinery and transport their produce. These traditionally Republican-leaning states battling rising cost of living pressures will create a headache for Trump, whose party is trying to hold on to its majorities.
Streeting told Sky News on Sunday: “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. We would obviously prefer a stronger approach on sanctions.” Streeting sought to avoid a deeper public confrontation with Washington, insisting Britain’s priority was to maintain western unity.
In a phone call with Zelenskyy on Saturday, Andy Burnham, the prime minister, restated his “complete solidarity” with Ukraine. Downing Street said the leaders had agreed to meet in person in the coming days. Burnham has also pledged to strengthen sanctions against Russia, while both called for an immediate energy ceasefire.
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