My monologue on @TimesRadio 1pm today: The man who promised to stop the Ukraine-Russian war on Day One of taking power has instead on Day 42 decided to stop all further US military aid to Ukraine. The war, of course, continues to drag on.  President Trump says his arms embargo will only be lifted when he’s ascertained that President Zelensky is ‘serious’ about peace.  Exactly what he has to do to convince Trump is not clear. But I think we can be sure Trump will want it to involve a lot of grovelling and kissing of the ring.  Either that — implies the White House — or Zelensky should make way for a Ukrainian leader who IS prepared to bend the knee.  What happens next is anybody’s guess — it always is in Trump World. But amid the chaos and confusion it’s important not to lose sight of some pretty fundamental facts.  First, this is the worst crisis in the long and successful history of NATO and the Atlantic Alliance. It might not survive.  A pact which has kept us safe and secure for as long as most of us can remember is crumbling, for no good reason other than the capricious whims of a man in the Oval Office.  Second, it is being demolished on a litany of falsehoods. Trump says America has given Ukraine $350 billion in military, financial and humanitarian aid — with nothing to show for it.  Wrong. America has spent $120 billion. And the dividend has been to thwart Russia from taking all of Ukraine then going on to threaten the rest of Eastern Europe, consisting of America’s NATO allies.  Trump says America has given Ukraine a lot more than Europe. Wrong. European aid combined totals $138 billion, almost $20 billion more than the US.  Trump claims European aid is mainly in loans and it will be repaid one day whereas American aid is in grants. Wrong. The bulk of European aid, like American aid, is in grants.  Thus is NATO in danger of being dismantled on a tissue of lies.  But it gets worse. It’s increasingly hard to avoid the conclusion that Trump is a better friend of Russia than he is of NATO or Ukraine. That when it comes to a choice — Russia or NATO — Trump chooses Russia.  It is hard to credit that it can be so. Yet Trump is cutting off arms to Ukraine while Russia’s war machine continues unhindered and Iran, North Korea and China ramp up their support. The Trump administration is even preparing plans to drop sanctions on Russia before a peace deal is struck, adding to the concessions Trump has already indicated he’ll make to the Kremlin in advance of any talks. So much for his ‘Art of the Deal.’ As Trump tries to discombobulate us with all manner of stuff and nonsense it’s worth holding on to some other fundamentals.  There is an invader — Russia —  and a victim — Ukraine. There is a democracy — Ukraine — and a dictatorship — Russia.  There is a country who wants to be a European democracy and a Western market economy — Ukraine — and another that hates democracy, freedom and everything else the West stands for — Russia.  That we have a US president who sides with the invader and penalises the victim is proof that our world has turned upside down.  The US arms embargo will not undermine Ukraine’s war effort immediately. But it will take its toll as we head into summer.  Europe must do all it can to fill the gaps, as it’s already starting to do. But it cannot replace everything America is now denying.  Of course Trump may yet pull back from the brink. He wants that mineral rights deal with Ukraine. Zelensky may be prepared to abase himself. Things would be back on track. Sort of.  But not really. For what lunacy might Trump get up to next in pursuit of his own self-interest and ego? What hope of the Atlantic Alliance when its head is a better friend of Russia than Europe?  Whatever happens Europe must prepare for a future without America. It was already starting to realise that before Trump pulled the rug from under Ukraine. It can now be in no doubt — and must rearm accordingly.

This is no way to treat the leader of a country being pummelled by Russia. It’s quite upsetting. Trump and Vance gang up on Zelensky. No way for leaders to behave. Trying to intimidate Zelensky. Vance attacks Z then accuses him of disrespect because he answers back.

After Trump’s disgraceful bullying of Zelensky today, aided and abetted by sidekick Vance, why would we want Trump to pay a state visit to the UK? Can the invitation letter be withdrawn?