It is hard to overplay the sense of despondency and sheer dread felt by Downing Street insiders as they watched Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky trade barbs in the Oval Office.

Just 24 hours earlier, on Feb 27, Sir Keir Starmer had pulled off what the media and Labour loyalists alike saw as a diplomatic triumph in his first meeting with the US president.

Weeks of preparation had been invested in how the Prime Minister handled that moment , how to strike the balance of massaging Mr Trump’s ego while landing the critical UK talking points.

The result was delight from the US president at a state visit invitation, support for Sir Keir’s deal to give away the Chagos Islands and warm words on a trade deal from the world’s most powerful man.

How differently Mr Zelensky’s meeting went

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