The last meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ended in a historic scandal: they had a falling out, and Zelensky left the White House early. Now British media are reporting that London is specifically preparing the Ukrainian president for difficult negotiations with Trump to avoid a new scandal. Jonathan Powell, Tony Blair’s former chief of staff and current security adviser to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, plays a key role in this, writes Bild.
He advises being careful with the US president’s egoism, praising him publicly as often as possible and not provoking him.
This includes praising Trump’s efforts to establish peace in Ukraine and recognizing that Europe must take greater responsibility for its own defense.
Behind the scenes, Zelensky needs to carefully use the White House to achieve Ukraine’s goals.
The meeting between Trump and Zelensky is scheduled for today.