Washington:
Donald Trump mentioned he trusted Russia’s Vladimir Putin to stay to any Ukraine ceasefire Thursday, as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer tried to win safety ensures for Kyiv — with the assistance of a royal invitation to go to Britain.
Trump struck a pleasant tone as he and Starmer met in Washington, and even walked again a remark about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky being a dictator that alarmed European capitals, saying: “Did I say that?”
However Trump additionally insisted that he trusted Putin to honor any truce with Ukraine, contradicting Starmer’s warnings {that a} lack of a US “backstop” for a deal would encourage Putin to stage a repeat of his February 2022 invasion.
Britain and France have each supplied to deploy peacekeeping troops for Ukraine however need US ensures of assist, together with aerial and satellite tv for pc surveillance and potential air energy.
“I believe he’ll preserve his phrase,” Trump informed reporters as he sat alongside Starmer within the Oval Workplace when requested about Putin.
“I spoke to him, I’ve identified him for a very long time now, I do not imagine he’ll violate his phrase.”
Trump added that Britain can “handle themselves, but when they need assistance, I will at all times be with the British.”
Starmer had mentioned on the airplane to the US capital {that a} “ceasefire and not using a backstop” would let Putin “wait and to return once more” at Kyiv.
– ‘Did I say that?’ –
The British premier informed Trump on the White Home that he needed to “work with you to guarantee that peace deal is enduring” however that it was additionally a “deal that no one breaches.”
Starmer then handed Trump — a long-term fan of Britain’s royals — a letter from King Charles III inviting him for an unprecedented second state go to by a US president.
“This has by no means occurred earlier than, that is unprecedented,” mentioned Starmer.
The invitation was a transparent try to woo Trump amid rising considerations in Europe that the US chief is able to promote Kyiv brief and take Russia’s place on a deal.
These fears intensified final week when Trump referred to as Zelensky a “dictator with out elections” — however with Starmer at his facet, Trump jokingly downplayed the jibe.
“Did I say that? I am unable to imagine I mentioned that,” Trump responded when requested whether or not he stood by the remark he made on his Fact Social community. “Subsequent query.”
Trump will host Zelensky on the White Home on Friday the place the 2 leaders are anticipated to signal a deal giving Washington entry to Ukraine’s uncommon minerals, which Trump has demanded as payback for US army assist.
Zelensky had hoped the deal would comprise US safety ensures however it seems to omit them.
– ‘Commerce-off’ –
Starmer’s go to comes days after an analogous go to by French President Emmanuel Macron, who got here away successfully empty handed regardless of saying there had been a “turning level” with Trump.
Trump has lengthy pushed for European nations to take extra of the burden for Ukraine’s protection, and their very own.
A senior Trump administration official mentioned the backstop was “clearly very excessive on our European allies’ agenda” however mentioned securing a correct ceasefire first was extra essential.
“The kind of pressure relies upon very a lot on the political settlement that’s made to finish the conflict. And I believe that trade-off is a part of what the leaders as we speak are going to be discussing,” the official informed reporters.
The assembly promised to be a conflict of kinds between the mild-mannered Labour chief, a former human rights lawyer, and the brash Republican tycoon.
Starmer, who will maintain a joint press convention with the US president, has pitched himself as a “bridge” between Trump and Europe on Ukraine.
The British premier got here bearing one other reward for Trump — a rise in protection spending.
A Trump administration official mentioned they have been “more than happy” by Starmer’s announcement on Tuesday that UK protection spending will rise to 2.5 p.c by 2027.
(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
