Donald Trump’s Vice President, JD Vance, ignited a political firestorm today after brutally dismissing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s call for a ‘coalition of the willing’ to support Ukraine.
Vance, in a scathing interview with Fox News, mocked the proposal for UK and French troops on the ground, sneering that it amounted to “20,000 troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years.” His comments provoked immediate backlash from British lawmakers, who accused him of erasing the sacrifice of UK soldiers who fought and died alongside American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Tory frontbencher James Cartilidge reminded Vance that NATO’s collective defense clause had only been invoked once—by the US after the 9/11 attacks—and that British forces had stood shoulder to shoulder with American troops in every major conflict since. “It’s deeply disrespectful to ignore such service & sacrifice,” he said.
Trump pulls the plug on Ukraine aid
The uproar came just hours after President Trump delivered a crushing blow to Western alliances, abruptly pausing all military aid to Ukraine. The White House confirmed it is “reviewing” its assistance to Kyiv, raising fears that the move is a calculated pressure tactic to force Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy into territorial concessions with Russia.
Behind closed doors, Trump officials are reportedly drafting plans to ease sanctions on Vladimir Putin, sending shockwaves through European capitals. A UK government spokeswoman reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to Ukraine, insisting: “We remain absolutely committed to securing a lasting peace.”
Vance takes aim at Zelenskyy
Doubling down on his controversial stance, Vance accused Zelenskyy of having a “certain sense of entitlement” and of deliberately antagonizing Trump. He claimed Ukrainian officials had tried to restart negotiations with the White House, only to be shut down by the president himself. “The door is open,” Vance said. “But Zelenskyy needs to get serious about peace.”
He also defended Trump’s decision to withhold aid, arguing that a minerals deal granting the US an economic stake in Ukraine would offer more protection from Russia than military assistance. “If you want real security guarantees, give Americans economic upside in Ukraine’s future,” Vance said. “That’s a way better guarantee than 20,000 troops from some random country.”
British outrage and calls for apology
The incendiary remarks provoked fury in Britain. Lib Dem MP Helen Maguire, a former Captain in the Royal Military Police who served in Iraq, accused Vance of “erasing from history” the sacrifices of British soldiers. “I saw firsthand how American and British troops fought bravely together,” she said. “Six of my own regiment never came home.”
Pressure is now mounting on UK representative Peter Mandelson to demand an apology from Vance.
Trump vs Zelenskyy: A relationship in freefall
Tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy reached a boiling point last week when the two leaders engaged in a public clash in the Oval Office. Trump, furious over Zelenskyy’s insistence that the war is “very, very far from over,” lashed out on Truth Social, warning, “America will not put up with it for much longer.”
The White House later issued a statement confirming that all military aid not yet delivered to Ukraine has been frozen indefinitely. While officials insist this is “not a permanent termination,” the implications are clear—Kyiv is now in a precarious position as it fights to hold back Russian forces occupying a fifth of its territory.
UK and Europe brace for a new reality
With Trump pulling back, European leaders scrambled to respond. At a crisis summit in London, Starmer pushed for a new European-led security framework, but made it clear that any troop deployments would require American backing.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch issued a stark warning: “Britain and Europe must rearm much faster if we want to provide Ukraine with more than just warm words.”
As the West grapples with its deepest fractures in decades, one thing is certain: the fate of Ukraine—and the credibility of NATO itself—now hangs in the balance.