After Trump and Zelenskyy's heated clash in the Oval Office, what now for Ukraine?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy left the Oval Office after a shocking verbal clash with U.S. President Donald Trump and his Vice President, JD Vance, leaving the world watching: what's next for Ukraine? First, at least for Zelenskyy, is a transatlantic flight from Washington to London for emergency meetings with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. This swift action underscores the urgency and complexity of the situation.

The BBC broadcast live coverage on Saturday of the Ukrainian delegation's plane landing at Stansted Airport and Zelenskyy's motorcade heading into central London. Upon arrival on British soil, the Ukrainian President posted a series of messages on social media, writing that he was "very grateful for all the support from America" but hoped the U.S. would "stand even more firmly by our side." This came after Trump told Zelenskyy he should be "more grateful" for U.S. support and that he was "gambling with World War Three." The contrast in tone was palpable.

Originally, the Ukrainian leader was scheduled to meet with Starmer on Sunday morning, but the meeting was brought forward. Many supporters cheered and waved placards of support as the Ukrainian President's motorcade traveled along Whitehall and arrived at Downing Street. Starmer shook hands and warmly embraced Zelenskyy, and the two smiled for cameras before entering the famous black door. The scene stood in stark contrast to what had transpired in the Oval Office just 24 hours earlier. The visual difference was a clear message of solidarity.

Inside 10 Downing Street, the two posed for cameras again, with Starmer telling Zelenskyy: "We will stand with you for as long as it takes." He added that the UK was committed to helping Ukraine achieve a "lasting peace based on sovereignty and security." Zelenskyy thanked Starmer and the British people for their "strong support from the very beginning of this war" and said he had accepted an invitation to meet with King Charles on Sunday. This reaffirmed the UK's commitment to supporting Ukraine.

Can Starmer be a bridge between Washington and Kyiv? He is certainly trying. Just 24 hours before Zelenskyy's visit, the UK Prime Minister's own meeting in the Oval Office was widely considered a success, with Starmer and Trump engaging warmly both on camera and behind closed doors. Starmer even extended an invitation from King Charles for Trump to make an unprecedented second state visit. Furthermore, earlier in the week, he laid out plans for increased UK defense spending, something Trump has been urging European nations to do. The Prime Minister's team flew back to London believing they had made genuine progress on Ukraine. Starmer's diplomatic efforts were clearly aimed at fostering collaboration.

However, Trump, still reportedly furious after his clash with Zelenskyy, did take a call from Starmer. "The Prime Minister has spoken to both President Trump and President Zelenskyy this evening," a Downing Street spokesperson said on Friday. "He reiterated his steadfast support for Ukraine and is doing everything he can to find a path to a lasting peace based on Ukrainian sovereignty and security," the spokesperson said. While no details were given about the nature of the two calls, the fact that Starmer was able to speak to the U.S. President immediately speaks volumes about the UK's diplomatic efforts with the new Trump administration thus far. The swift communication highlights the importance of the UK's role.

The meeting to watch now is the European Leaders Security Summit scheduled for Sunday afternoon in London. The summit was already crucial, but now it is even more so. After the Oval Office spat, European leaders rallied to Zelenskyy's defense, and now they will be working to figure out what to do next. Details of who, other than Zelenskyy, will be attending the summit have not been officially released, but French President Emmanuel Macron, who also met with Donald Trump in Washington this week, is expected to attend. The summit aims to address the evolving situation.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte are also thought to be attending. Canadian media is reporting that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is also on his way to London for the meeting. The leaders had originally thought they would be attending the summit with a key minerals agreement signed between Ukraine and the U.S., but that deal is now on hold after Zelenskyy's sudden rejection from the White House. The summit's agenda has been significantly impacted.

The group is expected to discuss what happened in Washington, where the U.S.-Ukraine-Europe relationship stands, the need to bolster Ukraine's position now, and how to reach a strong and lasting peace agreement. There are two scenarios to discuss – do they try to get the U.S. back to the table, or do they seek to move forward without the U.S.? Is the latter scenario even feasible? Or affordable? EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has said she believes Europe must step up. These are critical questions that need to be addressed.

Following the Oval Office showdown, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kallas wrote on social media: "Ukraine is Europe! We stand with Ukraine. We will step up our support so they can continue to fight back against the aggressor." She wrote: "Today it is clearer than ever that the free world needs a new leader. It is up to us Europeans to rise to that challenge." Kallas's statement reflects a growing sentiment in Europe.

As the security summit convenes, European leaders will warmly welcome Zelenskyy and reiterate their support for the war-torn nation, but the President will be hoping to see action, not just words of support. As Ukraine's Ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in December, and has said numerous times, "We are getting just enough assistance not to fail, but we are not getting enough assistance to win." If the U.S. decides to halt military aid to Ukraine, European aid will need to fill the gap. The stakes are high for Ukraine's future.

In Ukraine, there is widespread support for their leader's stance in the Oval Office, with some describing it as an ambush. Russia's full-scale invasion has also not ceased in the slightest. In the hours after the spat, Russian drones struck a medical facility and other targets in the second-largest city of Kharkiv, injuring at least seven people. More than 50 people had to be evacuated from the medical facility, and dozens of buildings were damaged, according to Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov. The ongoing attacks highlight the brutal reality of the war.

Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, wrote on social media after the attack: "World leaders talk about peace, but Russia's actions show its intentions. It does not negotiate, it destroys." How is Russia reacting to the apparent breakdown in U.S.-Ukraine relations? The Kremlin will be viewing what happened in the Oval Office between Trump, Vance, and Zelenskyy as a gift. The incident could be seen as an advantage for Russia.

Russian television played the heated exchange in full, with one channel describing it as a "diplomatic train wreck." Russian President Vladimir Putin has not yet commented on Zelenskyy's visit to Washington, but Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described it as a "complete diplomatic failure for Kyiv." Zakharova said: "The extremely boorish behavior that Zelenskyy demonstrated during his stay in Washington confirms that he is the most dangerous threat to the world community, an irresponsible major war instigator." The Russian perspective is clearly critical of Zelenskyy.

Zakharova stated, "The sooner Kyiv and certain European capitals realize this, the closer the peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis will be." Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, said Russia is ready to be flexible in negotiations on Ukraine, but only if they reflect the realities on the ground, Russian news agencies reported. Russia occupies about a fifth of Ukrainian territory. Medvedev said Russia is ready to discuss a settlement of the Ukrainian crisis with those who are "ready to communicate." Russia's stance remains firm on its territorial gains.

The U.S.-Ukraine relationship may be fractured, but President Zelenskyy appears to be hoping it can be repaired. In a series of social media posts after arriving in London, he said Ukraine was "ready to sign a minerals agreement" but said this was "the first step towards security guarantees." He said: "A ceasefire without security guarantees is dangerous for Ukraine." Donald Trump has said Zelenskyy can "come back when he is ready for peace." The problem is that the two leaders are vastly divided on how that peace is achieved. The path to reconciliation remains uncertain.