Donald Trump has said he 'speaks more for the UK' than Prince Harry after the Duke of Sussex called for stronger US leadership on Ukraine during a visit to Kyiv. The comments followedPrince Harry's address at the Kyiv Security Forumon Thursday, 23 April 2026.
Speaking at the event, the Duke urged the United States to 'honour its international treaty obligations' and take a leading role in supporting Ukraine. He referenced the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, under which Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons in exchange for security assurances from major powers including the US.
Responding to a reporter's question at the White House on Friday,Trump said: 'Prince Harry is not speaking for the UK, that's for sure. I think I'm speaking for the UK more than Prince Harry.'The remarks came ahead of an upcoming state visit by King Charles III to Washington.
During his speech,Prince Harry saidhe was attending 'not as a politician' but 'as a soldier... and as a friend of Ukraine'. He praised the resilience of Ukrainian forces and civilians, describing the conflict as 'a war about values' and sovereignty.
He also highlighted the human and psychological cost of the war, pointing to long-term impacts on civilians and veterans. Referring to international commitments, he said the US has 'a singular role' and called for continued action, adding that support should be driven by 'global security and strategic stability'.
The Duke's remarks echoed themes seen in his previous humanitarian work, including his involvement with injured service personnel through the Invictus Games and visits to rehabilitation centres in Ukraine.
Prince Harry made an unannounced visit to Kyiv, calling for an end to the war and expressing support for Ukraine in its fifth year of conflict with Russiahttps://t.co/NGRf8o9OYcpic.twitter.com/OF1ylLuMrQ
Trump's response focused on the question of representation, stating that the Duke does not speak on behalf of the UK. His comments were made during anexchange with reporters in the Oval Officeand did not directly address the substance of the Kyiv speech.
Prince Harry is no longer a working member of the Royal Familyand does not carry out official duties on behalf of the British government. However, his public statements continue to attract international attention due to his profile and past role within the monarchy.
REPORTER: "Prince Harry today has said that he would like to see you do more to end the war in Ukraine. Do you think it's appropriate for a royal to make those comments ahead of the visit on Monday?"TRUMP: "Prince Harry is not speaking for the U.K., that's for sure. I think I'm…pic.twitter.com/c9IijEhoBQ
Source: International Business Times UK
