Sir Keir Starmer was not among the western leaders to receive a phone call from Donald Trump following last night's lengthy call between the US President and Vladimir Putin.
The call, which lasted for two hours, discussed a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, aiming to end the war which has raged on since February 2022.
Posting on his Truth Social, Trump shared a list of European leaders he has been in touch with following his phone call, with notably Starmer missing from the list.
No10 said the Prime Minister was at a business reception when his call with Trump was rescheduled at short notice. Teams from the UK and the US have been debriefed.
Starmer was at a business reception when his call was rescheduled
GETTYThe US President shared on Truth Social that he had spoken to: "President Volodymyr Zelensky, of Ukraine, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, President Emmanuel Macron, of France, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, of Italy, Chancellor Friedrich Merz, of Germany, and President Alexander Stubb, of Finland."
Trump confirmed that "the Vatican, represented by the Pope, has stated that it would be very interested in hosting the negotiations".
Since entering power in July 2024, Starmer has continued close ties with Ukraine and Zelensky, mirroring his predecessors, Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson.
Just last month, Starmer and Zelensky agreed to "maintain momentum and continue working intensively" on efforts to secure peace in Ukraine during a meeting in Rome.
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Trump listed Zelenskyy as the first Western leader he contacted, following his two hour long phone call with Putin.
The 47th President said on Truth Social: "I believe [the call] went very well. Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire and, more importantly, an end to the War.
"The conditions for that will be negotiated between the two parties, as it can only be, because they know details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of. The tone and spirit of the conversation were excellent.
"If it wasn't, I would say so now, rather than later. Russia wants to do large-scale trade with the United States when this catastrophic "bloodbath" is over, and I agree."
Trump made six phone calls to Western leaders, missing out Starmer
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Trump believes that there is a "tremendous opportunity" to work with Russia, creating a massive "amount of jobs and wealth".
He added: "Its potential is unlimited. Likewise, Ukraine can be a great beneficiary on trade, in the process of rebuilding its country."
The Kremlin said that Moscow is ready to work with Ukraine on a memorandum about future peace talks, although both sides must compromise, Russian state media reports.
Following the phone call, Putin told reporters near the Black Sea resort of Sochi: "We have agreed with the President of the United States that Russia will propose and is ready to work with the Ukrainian side on a memorandum on a possible future peace accord, defining a number of positions, such as, for example, the principles of settlement, the timing of a possible peace agreement."
