Starmer will not challenge Trump on his attack on Zelenskyy when the pair meet

UK prime minister aiming to cool escalating transatlantic row over war in Ukraine

Keir Starmer will not risk riling Donald Trump by challenging him over his attack on Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, when the pair finally meet next week, as the prime minister seeks to cool an escalating transatlantic row.

Starmer will fly to the US in the coming days for what could be a defining moment for his leadership, as Europe and the US trade accusations and insults about the origins of the war in Ukraine and the best way to end it.