Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump clashed during a White House meeting, with US Vice President JD Vance also involved in the stormy exchange
Legendary actor Michael Caine has weighed in on the recent unprecedented clash in the White House between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump, along with Vice President JD Vance.
The fiery Oval Office encounter saw Zelensky, who was in Washington DC to sign a minerals deal that would have provided further US military support in return for access to Ukraine’s natural resources, being told he should be “thankful” for US backing. Zelensky left the White House early, putting the signing of the minerals deal on hold.
“You’re gambling with millions of people … You’re gambling with World War Three,” Trump warned his Ukrainian counterpart. As politicians and diplomats across Europe and America scrambled to respond to the fallout, Zulu and Italian Job star Michael Caine offered his succinct seven-word take: “You’re only supposed to sign a ceasefire.”
This is a nod to one of the 91-year-old’s most iconic lines: “You’re only supposed to blow the bloody doors off” from The Italian Job. During the heated White House exchange, Zelensky cautioned the US would “feel it in the future” if it did not continue its support for Ukraine.
“Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel. We’re trying to solve a problem,” Trump retorted. US vice president JD Vance questioned why Zelensky had not expressed gratitude for US military aid during the meeting, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Vance reportedly told the Ukrainian leader in no uncertain terms: “Mr President, with respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media. Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems. You should be thanking the president for bringing an end to this conflict.”
Downing Street has indicated that Keir Starmer has been working to mend fences between Ukraine and the US after the tense exchange at the White House. A spokesperson from No 10 stated: “The Prime Minister has tonight spoken to both President Trump and President Zelensky.
“He retains unwavering support for Ukraine, and is doing all he can to find a path forward to a lasting peace based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine.”
This announcement came on the heels of a strong show of support for Zelensky by European leaders.
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen were among those voicing their backing for Ukraine. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch urged for “respectable diplomacy” post-meeting and highlighted that a “divided West only benefits Russia”.
Meanwhile, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn proposed that the offer of a second state visit to Trump should be withdrawn.
