Andy Burnham has described Donald Trump’s deal with Vladimir Putin as a “dark moment” for Ukraine, as he pledged to try to repair relations between the US and Volodymyr Zelensky.
Mr Burnham is due to meet the Ukrainian president in Downing Street, in a public display of Britain’s continuing support for Kyiv. He said Mr Zelensky was “carrying the heaviest of weights right now” as Ukraine faced a severe winter.
The comments came after Mr Trump eased sanctions on Russian diesel ahead of crucial US midterm elections, which have been overshadowed by soaring fuel prices.
In recent days, the US president has suggested that Ukraine needs a new leader to replace Mr Zelensky and claimed that Mr Putin wanted a peace deal more than Kyiv.
Ukraine has also accused the US of assisting Russia’s war effort after key internet services were throttled overnight. A speed limit imposed on some Starlink services, operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, was said to have left Kyiv with little or no warning of Russian attacks.
Speaking in the House of Commons before his talks with Mr Zelensky, Mr Burnham said: “I called him on Saturday because I recognised it was another very dark and difficult moment for him as they contemplate a winter that will be severe for his people.
“I recognise that he is carrying the heaviest of weights right now and it is extremely difficult for him.”
He added: “What I have to do in my role is try and repair bridges so that the support comes back. So I should, at this moment in time, be careful in terms of laying the ground to bring people back together.
“That is the role I intend to play, it’s the right role for me to play in this moment. I will listen to President Zelensky carefully, but he won’t be going away from Britain today empty-handed.”
Mr Burnham was challenged by Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey to condemn what he called Mr Trump’s “shameful” betrayal of Ukraine.
“Scared of the midterms, President Trump has done a deal with Vladimir Putin to buy Russian diesel, ripping up international sanctions against Putin,” Sir Ed said.
He added: “The PM studiously avoided commenting on Trump’s behaviour on Monday.
“But this House does deserve to know his position as does, frankly, President Zelensky and our brave Ukrainian allies.
“So let me ask the PM this, doesn’t he agree this is yet another shameful Trump betrayal of the Ukrainian people and European security?”
