Miliband urges need to stand with Ukraine as Trump has fresh dig at Zelensky

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband (centre) pictured with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky (second left) during a recent visit to the country (Stefan Rousseau/PA)PA WireNick Lester3 minutes agoNews Briefings

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has stressed the need to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with Ukraine in a call with his US counterpart as Donald Trump made a fresh jibe at the country’s leader.

The American president claimed Russia’s Vladimir Putin, who triggered the conflict by launching the invasion back in 2022, wanted a peace deal more than Volodymyr Zelensky, who heads the Kyiv government.

Mr Trump insisted both men “have to get together and end that ridiculous war”.

Donald Trump has become embroiled in a renewed spat with Mr Zelensky over a controversial diesel supply deal with Russia (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)APHis barb at Mr Zelensky followed a renewed spat between the pair after the US president announced a controversial diesel deal with Russia in a bid to bring down soaring domestic fuel costs ahead of critical stateside elections next month, which will decide control of Congress.

Prices have spiked as a result of the US war with Iran, which has disrupted oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz waterway, but Mr Trump has increasingly sought to lay the blame on attacks by Ukraine on Russian refineries.

The agreement struck by Washington to waive sanctions and allow Moscow to sell diesel has sparked cross-party criticism on Capitol Hill, amid warnings it would help bankroll the Kremlin’s war effort.

Mr Zelensky argued it “plays into Russia’s hands” and would prolong the conflict.

In response, Mr Trump suggested Mr Zelensky had not done enough to end the war and that Ukraine needed a new leader.

It was against the backdrop of these latest tensions that Mr Miliband, who recently visited Ukraine, spoke with US secretary of state Marco Rubio on Monday.

In a post on X following the talks, the Cabinet Minister said: “We discussed ending Iran’s aggression, including in the Strait of Hormuz; and the importance of standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine.”

A statement by the US State Department said Mr Rubio had highlighted “bringing the Russia-Ukraine conflict to an end through a negotiated settlement”.

Speaking as he left the White House to travel to a campaign rally in Ohio, Mr Trump said: “All I know is that Zelensky and Putin have to get together and end that ridiculous war.”

Andy Burnham: RAF Fairford incident ‘almost certainly’ directed by Iran

Burnham confirms Iran 'almost certainly' behind foiled RAF Fairford 'terror plot'

UK summons Iranian ambassador to show ‘Britain will not tolerate threats’

He added: “I think they want to make a deal, but they don’t know how. But we’re going to get them to make a deal.”

Mr Trump went on: “I think actually Putin wants to make a deal more than Zelensky.”

The president also insisted an energy ceasefire was in place between Ukraine and Russia, because he said so.

This was despite Mr Zelensky saying Moscow had struck his country’s energy sites after Mr Trump had declared a halt to attacks on both sides’ power infrastructure.

The US president said: “Well, they agreed. Because I said, ‘You agree.’ That’s why they agreed, because I said they agree.”

When pressed about the attacks by Russia, Mr Trump said: “Well, I’d have to look at it and see, because there’s been violations on both sides.”

And he sought to claim the agreement with Russia to supply diesel was “a deal for the rest of the world”.

Mr Trump said: “We make a lot of oil. We could do a restriction on oil, but the rest of the world would be greatly, greatly affected if we do that.

“We could do a restriction, you know, a cap on diesel, keep it all for ourselves, that would have a very big impact.

“It’s not really a deal with me, it’s a deal for the rest of the world.”

A commitment to “refrain from energy export restrictions” formed part of a recent agreement, which saw the UK and other leading G7 nations bow to White House pressure and approve the release of 100 million barrels of fuel and oil from emergency stocks.

European countries consented to draw on their reserves under the threat of a block on US supplies.

Over the weekend, Prime Minister Andy Burnham restated his “complete solidarity” with the Ukrainian leader.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch also said Mr Trump was “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”.