King Charles III played a pivotal role in persuading US President Donald Trump that Ukraine could defeat Russia, according to Andriy Yermak, Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff.
Private talks between the British monarch and Trump during the latter’s state visit to the UK in September were “very important”, Yermak told The Telegraph.
“I’d like to mention that it was a great visit of President Trump to the United Kingdom, and I know the position of His Majesty, the position of Prime Minister Starmer and the people whom President Trump met... it was very important,” Yermak said.
King Charles, a longstanding supporter of Ukraine, is thought to have raised the war in private meetings with Trump during the visit.
In a speech delivered at the state banquet with Trump in attendance, he briefly addressed the conflict, saying: “Today, as tyranny once again threatens Europe, we and our allies stand together in support of Ukraine, to deter aggression and secure peace.”
Shortly after the visit, Trump expressed some of his harshest criticism of Moscow yet, writing on Truth Social that Russia was a “paper tiger”, insulting its “terrible” economy and suggesting that Ukraine was in a position to regain all of its territory.
After meeting with Zelensky at the UN General Assembly, Trump also told reporters in the Oval Office that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “killing people for no reason whatsoever,” adding “they’re bombing the hell out of everything and picking up very little territory.”
According to The Telegraph, when Yermak was asked whether Kyiv had prompted Trump’s pivot, Yermak instead credited the influence of the King and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
It came after an anonymous senior defense official told Politico on Sept. 17 that King Charles had been “very close” to negotiations for a potential ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.
Trump has frequently praised the British monarch, describing him as “a friend of mine for a very long time,” while the King has reciprocated in kind, bestowing on Trump the honor of being the first US leader to be hosted at Windsor Castle.
The King has also nurtured close ties with Zelensky, inviting the Ukrainian leader for tea at Sandringham just days after he was harshly rebuked by Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office in scenes which shocked many.
In a message to mark Ukraine’s Independence Day in August, King Charles wrote: “I keep feeling the greatest and deepest admiration for the unbreakable courage and spirit of the Ukrainian people.”
“I remain hopeful that our countries will be able to further work closely together to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine,” he finished.