The contrast was stark. On his way to this week’s G7 summit in Canada, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer boasted of his “good relationship with President Trump”. Meanwhile, his officials predicted that the UK’s defence spending pledges would help Downing Street persuade the White House to increase its support for Ukraine and allow Starmer to mediate between Trump and the other G7 leaders. Cut to a day later and Trump has publicly complained about the absence of expelled Russian President Vladimir Putin and then exited the summit before Volodymyr Zelensky’s arrival.

When Starmer met the Ukrainian President yesterday, the two leaders agreed on “coordinated sanctions by all G7 countries” against Russia’s energy and banking sectors, as well as the country’s “military-industrial complex”. The British Prime Minister’s strategy has been to position himself as a bridge between Europe, Ukraine and America, his team considering him the continent’s foremost “Trump-whisperer”. However, he may need to speak a little louder, since his messages are not being heard by the US President.

Given Trump’s hostility to both the EU and Ukraine, there are no signs of the White House being receptive to mediation or wanting any country to handle its diplomacy for it. Adding to the confusion, Starmer has considerable competition for the title of “Trump’s European Best Friend”, with French President Emmanuel Macron seeking the mantle thanks to their prior dealings and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni doing so based upon their similar ideologies.

For all that, Starmer has enjoyed a degree of success in befriending the US President. The UK helped repair relations after Trump and Zelensky’s Oval Office showdown earlier this year, and the US President has promised to protect Britain from future tariffs “because I like them”. Yet Starmer holds no real influence. That infamous White House row took place mere hours after he visited the White House, with Trump telling Zelensky that he had “no cards” the day after Starmer pushed for a peace “that Ukraine will help to shape”.

This week’s summit is only the latest indication of Starmer’s ineffectiveness. Trump was still griping about Moscow’s expulsion just as he did back in 2018, while — despite Starmer and Zelensky’s agreement — the G7 remains split on sanctions. Though the EU and UK have pushed for tougher measures against the Kremlin, Trump refused on the grounds that “sanctions cost us a lot of money” and Europe should “do it first”. A Canadian official claimed that plans for a strong G7 statement on Ukraine had to be abandoned due to US resistance, Zelensky leaving without any fresh arms pledges from America. For all the UK’s backroom diplomacy, it has not yet been able to secure a common consensus with Trump on even the most fundamental aspects of the response to Russia.

Balancing between Europe, Ukraine and the US is forcing Starmer into a series of contortions for fear of falling off this particular tightrope. In a moment of boldness, he distanced himself from Trump’s earlier rebuke of Zelensky by stressing that “Russia doesn’t hold all the cards.” However, when officials were asked if that meant the UK was trying to cajole the US into action, they immediately backed down.

The flattery and personal ties at the heart of the UK’s charm offensive make it hard to deliver tough messages to the US, especially when Starmer needs Trump for a deal on tariffs. Britain’s approach to the White House has been dubbed a “love bombing” strategy. But, as Starmer has stepped in to meet Zelensky, this has been revealed as a strategy with little result. All this “Trump whisperer” can offer are sweet nothings.

---

Bethany Elliott is a writer specialising in Russia and Eastern Europe.

BethanyAElliott

---