Reuters Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Shannon Airport, 27 February – he is wearing a green jumper with a Ukraine crest faintly visible – he is sitting in a red leather armchair, with a globe of the world visible on a side table Reuters
Volodymyr Zelensky stopped off at Shannon Airport in Ireland on Thursday en route to the US
US President Donald Trump has said he has a “lot of respect” for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, on the eve of their talks at the White House.

Asked by the BBC if he would apologise for recently calling him a “dictator”, he said he could not believe he had said this. He also called Zelensky “very brave”.

Trump was speaking after talks with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer about ending the war between Ukraine and Russia.

He predicted a “very good meeting” with Zelensky on Friday, saying efforts to achieve peace were “moving along pretty rapidly”.

This week’s meetings come after the Trump administration shocked its Western partners by holding the first high-level US talks with Moscow since Russia invaded Ukraine just over three years