Starmer escaped a roughing up by Trump by keeping his mouth shut and nodding along. That made sense on Thursday.
It made no sense on Friday.
Trump’s disgraceful treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed his true colours as an old-fashioned playground bully. JD Vance is the creep standing behind him.
Starmer needs to toughen up. Otherwise Trump will walk all over us, second state visit or not.
It won’t be easy though. And he can’t do it all on his own.
As the US sides with Russian dictator of Vladimir Putin, Europe needs to stand up for itself.
Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz all rallied behind Zelenskyy in the aftermath.
They pledged their unwavering support for Ukraine‘s sovereignty.
If they mean it, they have to get real.
Words won’t be enough. It also demands money. And Trump may have just handed us a “win-win” opportunity, according to one EU diplomat.
We can back Ukraine and boost our economy too. Assuming we’re brave and fast enough to take advantage.
The Trump-Zelensky confrontation led to the abrupt termination of a proposed minerals agreement between the US and Ukraine.
The UK and EU should sneak in and strike a mineral deal of our own.
So far, France has led the way. In October, it started discussions with Kyiv to secure access to Ukraine‘s mineral resources.
The EU has also proposed a mutually beneficial deal, highlighting that Ukraine has 21 out of 30 critical materials Europe desperately needs to drive its economy.
So far, China has grabbed a global monopoly on rare earths.
Beijing could put a stranglehold on Europe, giving Premier Xi Jinping the bargaining power he needs to invade Taiwan.
Striking a minerals deal with Ukraine could break that stranglehold.
Starmer should not stay passive in this.
The UK can play a pivotal role in securing these critical minerals, essential for various industries, including defence and technology.
And we could do so while sticking to our principles, by offering Zelensky a fair trade deal, rather than the imperial plundering Trump is demanding.
That way the Oval Office showdown could backfire on Trump.
It’s risky though. Engaging more deeply with Ukraine demands we step up our military efforts. This escalation will provoke Russia.
Putin’s cronies will no doubt up their nuclear threats. So we have to face down a second bully.
An equally big challenge will be pushing Europe to agree to all of this. Getting consensus across the EU is notoriously challenging, as members pursue their own interests.
Some are actively pro-Putin, notably Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán. They’ll use their veto to prevent action, if they can.
History teaches us that in times of crisis, bold and dynamic action is imperative.
The alternative is to give in and let Putin carve up eastern Europe, then menace the western part.
By taking decisive steps to support Ukraine, the UK reinforces its commitment to democratic values and international stability.
We need to be sure those minerals really are there. Trump has talked up their value, but we can’t rely on him.
But if they are, we can boost the Ukrainian war effort, stick to our values and find a way to fund them. The result could be win win-win, but the UK cannot do it alone.
