British Prime Minister Keir Starmer took the opportunity to engage President Donald Trump during his visit to Washington on Thursday, urging him to stay committed to supporting Ukraine in its ongoing battle against Russia.
Starmer emphasized the importance of maintaining cautious diplomacy as Trump aims to help bring an end to the brutal conflict, which has left the European continent in turmoil.
The visit began with Starmer delivering an invitation from King Charles III for Trump to visit Scotland for a “historic” state visit, marking an extraordinary honor given that Trump had already been hosted by Queen Elizabeth II during his previous term.
Historic Peace Deal
In his discussions with Trump, Starmer acknowledged the potential for a historic peace deal.
“You’ve created a moment of tremendous opportunity for a peace deal—one that would be celebrated in Ukraine and around the world,” the AP quoted Starmer. He cautioned, however, that achieving the right deal was essential.
Trump responded by saying that talks, which aim to end the war, were “very well advanced.”
He warned that the window for a successful deal was narrowing. “If it doesn’t happen quickly, it may not happen at all.”
Starmer’s visit followed a similar one by French President Emmanuel Macron, who also sought to persuade Trump to maintain strong backing for Ukraine.
The British Prime Minister framed Trump as a pivotal figure who could act as the linchpin in sustaining peace efforts should the war reach a resolution. This plea reflects mounting concerns across Europe about Trump’s approach, which some fear might involve making too many concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Some of Trump’s remarks raised eyebrows.
Trump expressed confidence that Putin would honor any peace agreement, saying, “I think he’ll keep his word. I’ve spoken to him, I’ve known him for a long time now, we had to go through the Russian hoax together.” The “Russia hoax” refers to the investigation into whether Trump’s 2016 campaign colluded with Russia, which ultimately found insufficient evidence of direct coordination despite Russia’s interference in the election.
Starmer: United Stance
When asked about the possibility of Putin violating any future peace deal, Starmer told Fox News, “I’m concerned about that because, historically, that’s been the case.”
He emphasized the need for a united stance from the U.S., Britain, and Europe to hold Putin accountable if a deal is reached, saying “We all need to come together to defend the deal if there is a deal.”
Trump’s approach to Russia has unsettled America’s traditional European allies. His “America First” foreign policy stance, particularly his willingness to negotiate directly with Russia, has caused concern among those who have long relied on U.S. support for collective security in Europe.
Recent developments, such as the U.S. holding talks with Russia without Ukraine or European allies present, and its refusal to sign United Nations resolutions condemning Russia, have signaled a shift in Washington’s stance that some fear could strain transatlantic relations.
Starmer acknowledged Trump’s push for an end to the conflict. But he reminded him that any peace agreement must not reward the aggressor.
“History must be on the side of the peacemaker, not the invader,” Starmer stressed.
In a key meeting, Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are to finalize a controversial agreement that would grant the U.S. access to Ukraine’s vital minerals, used in aerospace, defense, and nuclear industries.
Frustration Over the Deal
However, Zelenskyy has expressed frustration over the deal, which lacks specific security guarantees from the U.S. Trump has remained noncommittal on providing such guarantees, arguing that Russia would think twice about resuming attacks if the U.S. were to establish an economic presence in Ukraine focused on extracting critical minerals.
Both Starmer and Macron have expressed their willingness to send peacekeeping forces to Ukraine in the presence of a peace agreement to prevent any flare-ups between Ukrainian and Russian forces.
However, White House officials have raised doubts about the feasibility of assembling a credible European-led peacekeeping mission, particularly at this stage of the conflict.
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