Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has voiced his backing for Volodymyr Zelensky as a “democratically elected leader” following Donald Trump’s label of the Ukrainian president as a “dictator”.

During a phone conversation on Wednesday night, Sir Keir described it as “entirely reasonable” for Ukraine to “postpone elections during wartime, similar to the UK’s approach during World War II”, according to statements from Downing Street.

This conversation occurred shortly after Trump criticized Zelensky, stating he had performed a “terrible job” and asserted that “he refuses to hold elections” in Ukraine as a prerequisite for a peace settlement.

Zelensky responded by accusing Trump of operating from a space filled with Russian “disinformation” after the former US president appeared to shift responsibility onto Ukraine for instigating the conflict.

A spokesperson from Downing Street highlighted that during his conversation with the Ukrainian president, Sir Keir “emphasized the necessity for collective efforts.”

“The Prime Minister reiterated his support for President Zelensky as the democratically elected leader of Ukraine, asserting that it is understandable to suspend elections during wartime, just as the UK did in World War II,” the spokesperson conveyed.

“Furthermore, he reaffirmed his backing for the US-led initiatives aimed at securing long-term peace in Ukraine to deter future Russian aggression.”

Post-call, Zelensky acknowledged the significance of the UK’s role in “strengthening Europe’s defense and security.”

He mentioned that discussions with Sir Keir included “forthcoming plans and opportunities”, highlighting that “the support from the UK is tremendously valuable, and we will always remember the regard the British populace has shown towards Ukraine and its citizens”.

Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch has also come to Zelensky’s defense.

In a post on X, Badenoch referred to Zelensky as “the democratically elected leader of Ukraine who valiantly resisted Putin’s unlawful invasion”.

However, Badenoch agreed with Trump’s assertion that Europe needs to be more proactive, urging Sir Keir to “take a flight to Washington and demonstrate leadership”.

This conflict between Trump and Zelensky has heightened the political stakes for Sir Keir, particularly ahead of a critical meeting with the US president planned for next week.

The Prime Minister is set to visit Washington DC for his inaugural in-person meeting with Trump, during which he aims to sway the American strategy regarding the resolution of the Ukraine conflict.

Sir Keir has conveyed his intention to address the necessity of a “US backstop” during his dialogue with Trump, which he believes is vital to deter any further Russian incursions into Ukraine.

He has indicated a willingness to deploy British troops to Ukraine to bolster its security as part of a peace agreement.

In an interview with BBC Newsnight, Andrei Kelin, the Russian ambassador to the UK, stated that Moscow would reject the presence of troops from the UK or other European nations in Ukraine, even with President Trump’s approval.

Kelin further questioned the plausibility of achieving a peace deal without conducting new elections in Ukraine.

Zelensky secured a five-year term in 2019 and has maintained his position as elections have been stalled since martial law was instituted following Russia’s invasion.

When asked if Russia might consider returning some of the territories it has claimed from Ukraine, Kelin responded: “Why would we? We have liberated these territories inhabited by Russian people for centuries.”

The UK and other European countries are currently vying to address the swiftly evolving situation nearly three years following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The week commenced with talks between US and Russian diplomats in Saudi Arabia, aimed at negotiating an end to the conflict.

Concerns were raised that the US had excluded European leaders, including Zelensky, by not inviting them to the discussions.

By Tuesday, President Trump had appeared to attribute blame for the war to Ukraine, suggesting that Zelensky’s approval ratings fell as low as 4%.

It remains uncertain what evidence Trump based his claims on, as he did not provide any. A recent poll showed that 57% of Ukrainians trust their president, according to the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology.

In his statements on Wednesday, Trump cautioned Zelensky that “he is at risk of losing his country” unless he pursues peace.

Within the UK, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey stated that labeling Zelensky as a dictator “crosses a critical line”.

He expressed on X: “I genuinely hope that all political factions in the United Kingdom will unite to counter Trump’s falsehoods.”

Tory MP and former cabinet official James Cleverly remarked that Trump was inaccurate about Zelensky and urged Foreign Secretary David Lammy to “acknowledge this”, adding that “his silence is alarming”.

“The UK and USA need to convey the message that we will not allow tyrants to prevail!,” he posted.

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also entered the debate, stating that “of course Ukraine didn’t instigate the war”.

He added: “Trump’s assertions are not meant to be factually correct but are intended to provoke Europeans into action.”

Earlier, UK Defence Secretary John Healey was seen at the Norway-Russia border alongside Norwegian Defence Minister Tore Sandvik.

When confronted about the UK’s stance on Trump’s claim that Ukraine “initiated” the war, Healey told journalists: “Three years ago, one nation unlawfully invaded another, and since that time, Ukrainians have been battling for their liberty. They are fighting for their future, and they continue to do so.”

“While discussions are underway, our primary concern as defence ministers is not to compromise the peace by neglecting the ongoing warfare.”