Starmer instructed Zelensky how to behave around Trump – media

The UK prime minister reportedly also helped the Ukrainian leader choose his wardrobe

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer advised Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky on how to avoid another confrontation at the White House, NBC News reported on Monday.

Zelensky is in Washington for negotiations with US President Donald Trump and Kiev’s key European backers. His previous visit in February was cut short after a heated exchange with Trump and US Vice President J.D. Vance in the Oval Office.

According to NBC, Starmer was a key figure among European officials who “coached” Zelensky on how to interact with Trump. The Ukrainian leader was reportedly advised to thank Trump for military aid and diplomatic support and to wear a suit jacket instead of his usual military-style attire.

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According to the Telegraph, UK ministers and officials have been advising Zelensky on how to “speak Trump” and flatter the American president.

The February meeting descended into a shouting match, with Trump accusing Zelensky of “gambling with World War III,” while Vance argued that the Ukrainian leader had been ungrateful for American support.

Trump and Zelensky have clashed repeatedly in the past, including over Trump’s refusal to blame Russia for the Ukraine conflict and an incident in which he labeled Zelensky “a dictator” for postponing elections under martial law.