The Prime Minister has dismissed calls for Donald Trump’s “unprecedented” state visit to the UK to be cancelled following his furious row with Volodymyr Zelensky. Mr Trump told the Ukrainian President he was “disrespectful” and “gambling with World War Three” in an explosive war of words at the White House on Friday.
The SNP and Scottish Greens both called for the US President’s state visit to be scrapped but Sir Keir Starmer said he would not be drawn into a debate. He told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme: “I’m not going to be diverted by the SNP or others trying to ramp up the rhetoric without really appreciating what is the single most important thing at stake in Europe.” Sir Keir added that the fiery clash in the Oval Office had made him feel “uncomfortable” but that he chose to “roll up my sleeves” in response, rather than “ramp up the rhetoric”.
The Prime Minister presented Mr Trump with a letter from the King inviting him for a second state visit only 24 hours before the public row with Mr Zelensky.
Sir Keir is hosting European leaders in London to discuss the war, after welcoming Mr Zelenksy and reiterating the UK’s support for Ukraine on Saturday.
Scottish First Minister John Swinney told the Sunday Mail that Mr Trump’s “cannot go ahead” if the US pulls back on its support for Kyiv.
He told the newspaper: “If the US withdraws support from Ukraine, abandoning an ally and betraying democracy, the state visit cannot go ahead. That is simply unimaginable.
“If, despite what President Trump said, a state visit can help solidify US support for Ukraine, if the US maintains its support for Ukraine, then perhaps it can proceed.”
Shadow minister Alicia Kearns told the Mail on Sunday that “state visits should be conferred to the most honourable of allies”.
A spokesperson for Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said the views of individual MPs are not the position of the party.
The spokesman said the state visit is a “matter for the King” who sent the invite, adding it is “imperative that the UK remains close to America and they don’t disengage from NATO if we are going to get a just and lasting peace for Ukraine”.
Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey told Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that he believes Mr Trump’s visit shouldn’t be called off, adding it should be used to leverage security guarantees for Ukraine.
An online petition calling for Mr Trump's state visit to be cancelled has amassed more than 70,000 signatures.
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