Sir Keir Starmer Claims Confidence in Donald Trump Before Washington Summit | Political News
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer downplayed the rising tensions between the White House and Europe regarding Ukraine, affirming his trust in Donald Trump and expressing a desire for the “special relationship” to strengthen further.
Before a significant meeting at the White House, Sir Keir stated that the UK was collaborating “in lockstep” with the president on Ukraine-related issues.
When asked about trusting President Trump after recent events, the prime minister confidently replied “yes.”
“I maintain a good relationship with him,” Sir Keir remarked.
“As you know, I have met with him, and I have spoken to him over the phone. The bond between our two nations is special, with a rich history shaped by our joint efforts in war and trade.”
“I am committed to see it grow from strength to strength.”
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However, prior to his arrival in Washington, the narrative shifted slightly as President Trump seemed to dismiss the idea of a US military backstop for Ukraine in any peace agreement — a crucial demand from the UK and European nations.
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“I’m not going to provide security guarantees beyond very limited ones,” Mr Trump commented during his first cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
“We’ll leave that to Europe since they are the neighboring party.”
His comments appeared contradictory to the prime minister’s assertions en route to Washington, where he emphasized the significance of a US military backstop for Ukraine.
“Everyone desires a peaceful resolution,” the prime minister said.
“It’s essential for this peace to be sustainable, which necessitates establishing a robust security guarantee.”
“The specifics of that configuration and backstop are currently under intense scrutiny.”
He elaborated: “The backstop is crucial as it must be substantial enough to deter Putin from advancing again. My fear is that a ceasefire without a backstop only provides him the opportunity to wait and strike again, given his clear ambitions regarding Ukraine.”
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As European allies, including the UK and France, prepare to deploy peacekeeping troops to supervise the Ukraine-Russian borders, leadership remains clear: securing US support is vital to managing President Putin, and this remains a primary objective of the prime minister’s Washington visit.
President Zelenskyy has also requested explicit guarantees of US military support and security to be part of the agreement concerning critical minerals with the US. Nevertheless, the framework concluded this week lacks any direct mention of such support.
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Prior to his Washington visit, the prime minister committed to increasing UK defense spending, a primary expectation of all NATO members from President Trump. He reaffirmed his resolve to send British forces to Ukraine in a bid to ease tensions between Europe and the US and demonstrate to President Trump that the UK is prepared to contribute.
“In terms of defense and security, we have consistently acted as a bridge due to the special relationship we maintain with the US alongside our allegiance to European partners.” Sir Keir stated.
“I have remained steadfast in my assertion that we will not choose sides between the Atlantic; we will engage with the US and our European allies, just as we have for decades, and that’s what I will continue to do as Prime Minister.”
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Sir Keir also delivered an “assurance message” to the British public following his decision to boost defense spending amid Russian hostilities, clarifying that the move was aimed at “ensuring their safety” alongside the job opportunities that come with increased investment.
“I want the British public to know that our actions are to safeguard their security and defense of our nation.
“I also want to emphasize that this presents an opportunity; as we enhance defense spending, it will positively impact our industrial strategy, leading to well-paid job creation in defense across the UK.”
