Sir Keir Starmer meets Donald Trump to push for Ukraine guarantees

Donald Trump says a peace deal needs to be struck soon between Ukraine and Russia or it may not happen, after meeting Sir Keir Starmer and accepting King Charles’ ‘unprecedented’ invitation to visit Britain.

US President Donald Trump has said that a peace deal needs to be struck soon between Ukraine and Russia or it may not happen “at all’’.

I think we’ve made a lot of progress and I think it’s moving along pretty rapidly,” Trump said. “It’ll either be fairly soon or it won’t be at all.”

He was speaking at a joint news conference after meeting British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who sought a US “backstop” of air power for any Ukraine war ceasefire, insisting it would be the only way to deter Russia’s Vladimir Putin from invading again.

Starmer said a Ukraine truce “can’t be peace that rewards the aggressor”.

“We have to win the peace, and that’s what we must do now, because it can’t be peace that rewards the aggressor or that gives encouragement to regimes like Iran,” Starmer told the joint news conference.

Trump, who has repeatedly disparaged NATO, said he supported the alliance’s crucial Article 5 provision for mutual defence between members.“I support it,” he said at a press conference, adding, “I don’t think we’re going to have any reason for it.”

Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump at their news conference. Picture: AFP

In their Oval Office meeting on Thursday US time, Starmer pushed Trump for US aerial surveillance and even air power to support peacekeepers that Britain and France are offering to deploy if the conflict ends.

But Trump has been wary of committing American resources, adding to concerns in Europe that the US President will abandon Kyiv and take Russia’s side in negotiations.

Starmer also brought a letter from King Charles inviting Trump for what Starmer called an “unprecedented” second state visit to Britain.

The two men adjourned for lunch and later were to host a press conference.

Starmer’s visit comes days after a similar visit by French President Emmanuel Macron, who came away effectively empty-handed despite saying there had been a “turning point” with Trump.

“The security guarantee has to be sufficient to deter Putin,” Starmer told reporters on the plane to Washington.

“If there is a ceasefire without a backstop, it will simply give him the opportunity to wait and to come again, because his ambition in relation to Ukraine is pretty obvious.”

Donald Trump holds a letter from King Charles during his meeting with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in the Oval Office. The King invited the US President to visit Britain. Picture: AFP

British officials said European countries would be reluctant to commit forces unless Washington had their backs.

But Trump has long pushed for European nations to take more of the burden for Ukraine’s defence, and their own.

“I’m not going to make security guarantees beyond very much. We’re going to have Europe do that,” Trump told reporters as he held the first cabinet meeting of his second term on Wednesday.

A senior Trump administration official said the backstop was “obviously very high on our European allies’ agenda” but said securing a proper ceasefire first was more important.

“The type of force depends very much on the political settlement that is made to end the war. And I think that trade-off is part of what the leaders today are going to be discussing,” the official told reporters.

The meeting had promised to be a clash of styles between the mild-mannered Labour leader, a former human rights lawyer, and the brash Republican tycoon.

Starmer, who later held a joint press conference with the US President, has pitched himself as a “bridge” between Trump and Europe on Ukraine.

The British PM also came bearing a gift for Trump.

His announcement on Tuesday that UK defence spending will rise to 2.5 per cent by 2027 was particularly aimed at the American leader, who has badgered European countries to pay more towards NATO.

“We are very pleased with Prime Minister Starmer’s announcement,” the senior US official said.

Donald Trump greets Sir Keir Starmer at the entrance of the West Wing of the White House. Picture: AFP

Starmer meanwhile hoped to avoid sweeping tariffs that Trump has promised to slap on the European Union.

Trade “will certainly be part of the conversation”, added the US official. But like visiting French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday, he had his work cut out to persuade Trump on Ukraine.

Last week Trump called Starmer a “very nice guy” – but complained that he and Macron had done “nothing” to end the war in Ukraine.

The US President stunned allies when he began negotiations with Russia, without including Ukraine or its European allies.

Concerns deepened when Trump attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a “dictator” and echoed Moscow talking points blaming Kyiv for Russia’s February 2022 invasion.

Despite that, there have been growing signs of movement on a deal to end more than three years of bloody fighting.

Zelensky is due at the White House on Friday to sign a deal giving Washington access to Ukraine’s rare minerals, which Trump has demanded as payback for US military aid.

The Ukrainian president is hoping the deal will provide a guarantee of future US support.

Starmer is then hosting Zelensky, Macron and other European leaders in Britain on Sunday as momentum grows.

In Moscow, Putin on Thursday said that initial Russia-US talks “give some hope” of resolving “problems” like the Ukraine conflict.

Trump has ‘a lot of respect’ for Zelensky

On Thursday, Trump voiced respect for Zelensky on the eve of his visit, downplaying an earlier jibe that he was a “dictator’’.

“I think we’re going to have a very good meeting tomorrow morning. We’re going to get along really well,” Trump said.

“I have a lot of respect for him,” Trump said of Zelensky at a joint news conference with Starmer.

Trump has long criticized the billions of dollars in military and other aid Washington has given Ukraine, but took a different tone ahead of a meeting in which the two countries are expected to sign a deal on mining rights.

The deal, sought by Trump as a form of compensation for Washington’s backing, would give the US a share in much of Ukraine’s mineral wealth.

“We’ve given him a lot of equipment and a lot of money, but they have fought very bravely,” Trump said.

“Somebody has to use that equipment, and they have been very brave in that sense.” Trump stunned many European allies earlier in February by speaking to Putin over Ukraine.

After critical remarks by Zelensky, Trump called the elected Ukrainian leader a “dictator”.

“Did I say that? I can’t believe I said that,” Trump responded when asked by journalists about his comment made this month in a post on his Truth Social platform.

A Ukraine deal would hold, says Trump

Dow Jones reports: President Trump said he expected any Ukraine-Russia peace deal would hold, but that his approach toward talks involving the Kremlin will be “trust and verify”.

Asked whether he believed Putin would negotiate in good faith, Trump said, “I have confidence, if we make a deal, it’s going to hold.”

The remarks, made while sitting next to Starmer in the Oval Office, showcased the president’s confidence in his own deal-making skills and his belief that Putin will ultimately abide by any agreement.

Trump also said he aims to work closely with Zelensky. “We are going to certainly try and get as much as we can back” of Ukraine’s seized territory, Trump said.

Starmer says second state visit ‘historic’

King Charles has invited Trump for an “unprecedented” second state visit to Britain.

“This is really special, this has never happened before, this is unprecedented,” Starmer said in the Oval Office as he handed Trump a hand-signed letter from the monarch containing the invitation.

“This is truly historic.”

Trump made a state visit during his first term in office in 2019, when he met the late Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles’s mother.

“His Majesty the King wants to make this even better,” said Starmer, who was at the White House to push Trump to give US security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a deal to end the war with Russia.

The US President has long been a vocal fan of the royal family. Reading the letter, Trump pointed out that he had been invited to Windsor Castle, near London, one of the royal family’s ancient homes.

“On behalf of the wonderful first lady Melania and myself, the answer is yes,” Trump said. “It will be my honour to be there.”

AFP