An SNP MP has mentioned that Donald Trump’s second state go to to the UK can not go forward if he refuses to indicate additional help for Ukraine.
Trump accused Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky of “playing with World Struggle Three” throughout a fiery showdown on the White Home on Friday.
It got here the day after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer used his US go to to current Trump with a letter from the King, providing an preliminary assembly in Scotland to debate the unprecedented second go to.
Stephen Gethins, the SNP’s overseas affairs spokesperson, referred to as Trump’s behaviour in direction of Zelensky “grotesque” and mentioned it amounted to “bullying”.
Talking to BBC Information, he mentioned: “I might describe final night time’s efficiency as bullying, as an even bigger nation ganging up on a small nation that’s struggling for its very survival.
“The UK has left itself in an completely remoted place. We have to get nearer to our European companions and allies.
“Proper now, on condition that therapy of certainly one of our allies in Ukraine, I don’t see how a state go to might presumably go forward. We have had a little bit of silence from the prime minister to date and that is extraordinarily disappointing.”
Zelensky has landed in London and is on his solution to Downing Road to satisfy the prime minister earlier than a summit with European leaders on Sunday.
Three years on, the warfare continues in Ukraine, with further injuries in the city of Kharkiv after a recent Russian drone attack.
Zelensky had hoped for constructive talks with Trump throughout his go to, together with the signing of a minerals deal which might give the US an actual stake in his nation’s future, if not an outright safety assure.
As a substitute he confronted a rare dressing down in entrance of the world’s media, with Trump and his Vice-President JD Vance demanding that he present extra gratitude for years of US help.
The Ukrainian president pushed again at ideas from his extra highly effective companions that he ought to work more durable to agree a ceasefire with Vladimir Putin. They responded that he was being “disrespectful”.
After his departure, Zelensky mentioned Ukraine is “able to signal the minerals settlement” however continued his name for US safety ensures.
The alternate prompted a sequence of responses from European leaders with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz amongst these reiterating their help for Ukraine.
Starmer has not but made a remark however a spokesperson for No 10 mentioned he has spoken to each Trump and Zelensky.
They mentioned “he retains unwavering help for Ukraine, and is doing all he can to discover a path ahead to a long-lasting peace”.
Posting on X on Friday, First Minister John Swinney mentioned: “Right this moment’s occasions in Washington are a transparent trigger for deep concern, for shock, for anger.
“What we’d like now are cool heads and clear considering. We should stand agency with our European allies within the steadfast defence of Ukraine. That’s the place Scotland stands.”
Scottish Conservative MP Andrew Bowie, who’s shadow secretary of state for Scotland, mentioned the White Home alternate was a “unhappy and miserable spectacle”.
On X, he added: “Within the face of unprovoked Russian aggression and within the third yr of a warfare to save lots of his nation, Vlodomyr Zelensky has been a logo of calm power and dedication.
“Right this moment his restraint was unbelievable. We stand with him and Ukraine.”
State go to
If Trump does certainly meet the King in Scotland to debate a second state go to, it might be his first return to the nation the place he has household and enterprise connections since 2023.
The Scottish authorities mentioned Swinney, who endorsed rival Kamala Harris in final yr’s election, would work to “strengthen” ties between the 2 nations.
Trump was hosted by the late Queen Elizabeth for a three-day state go to throughout his first presidential time period in 2019.
Second-term US presidents are historically not provided state visits and have as an alternative been invited for tea or lunch with the monarch, often at Windsor Fort.
However King Charles’ letter proposed a gathering in Scotland, the place Trump owns two golf programs, to debate preparations for a second state go to.
The letter recommended assembly at both Dumfries Home in Ayrshire, which the King has owned since 2007, or Balmoral Fort in Aberdeenshire.
Trump appeared stunned by the letter, however after taking a minute to learn it he mentioned he accepted the invite and that it might be an “honour” to go to the “implausible” nation.
The prime minister mentioned it was a “privilege and an honour” to ship the King’s letter to Trump, including he “seemed ahead to welcoming” the president to the UK.
In the meantime the Scottish Greens have mentioned Donald Trump just isn’t welcome in Scotland, with co-leader Patrick Harvie forecasting “protests and a substantial amount of anger” across the go to.
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