UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer has repeated his call for the US to provide security assurances for Ukraine, aiming to prevent further aggression from Vladimir Putin, ahead of his meeting with Donald Trump in Washington DC.
Speaking on the flight to the US, the prime minister expressed his desire for the UK-US relationship to grow “from strength to strength.” However, the two leaders seem to have different views on the role of US security commitments in any future peace agreement for Ukraine.
While discussions continue over the possibility of British troops being sent to Ukraine, Starmer underscored the necessity of a US “backstop.” When asked about the specifics of such a measure, he responded, “Exactly what the configuration of that is, exactly what the backstop is, is obviously the subject of intense discussion but I’m not going to get ahead of myself on it, other than to say I’m very clear about what the principles are.”
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In contrast, Trump has indicated reluctance to commit to extensive security assurances. “I’m not going to make security guarantees beyond very much. We’re going to have Europe do that because we’re talking about Europe as the next-door neighbour,” he stated.
Trump further described an expected US-Ukraine minerals deal as “great” for Ukraine, explaining, “because they get us over there. We will be on the land and that way there is going to be automatic security because nobody is going to be messing around with our people.”
The extent of security support sought by European leaders from the US remains unclear, as does the scale of any American presence in Ukraine tied to the minerals agreement. Sir Keir emphasised the need for a sustainable resolution to the conflict, stating, “I’m considering how we preserve peace in Europe and how we get a lasting peace in Ukraine.
And I’m absolutely convinced that we need lasting peace, not a ceasefire, and for that to happen we need security guarantees. Precisely what that layers up to, what that looks like, is obviously a subject of intense discussion. We will play our part and I’ve been clear that we will need a US backstop of some sort”, he said.
Expressing concern over the potential consequences of a ceasefire without security guarantees, he warned, “My concern is if there is a ceasefire without a backstop, it will simply give him [Putin] the opportunity to wait and to come again because his ambition in relation to Ukraine is pretty obvious, I think, for all to see.”
Speaking at a reception at the UK Ambassador’s Residence in Washington, Starmer reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening ties with the US, declaring, “our best days lie ahead.” On domestic policy, he drew a contrast with Elon Musk’s recent display at the conservative CPAC conference, saying, “Taking out a chainsaw isn’t quite my style,” but added, “we are stripping away red tape and bureaucracy.”
Lord Mandelson, the British ambassador to the US, described Trump as a “very consequential president” and highlighted the broader geopolitical stakes, noting, “all the freedom-loving democracies in the world” are facing a “very significant moment.”
Following Starmer’s visit, Trump is set to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has described the minerals deal as preliminary and insisted that further agreements are necessary. Zelensky has stressed the importance of security commitments from the US, stating, “Without security guarantees from the US, we won’t have a ceasefire, nothing will work.”
Foreign Secretary David Lammy expressed optimism regarding the proposed US-Ukraine agreement, telling ITV’s Peston programme, “If US interests are on the ground in Ukraine, then that is the best security guarantee that the Ukrainians can have. So, I do hope they get that deal over the line in the next few days.”
As Starmer prepares for high-stakes discussions at the White House, the complexity of global diplomacy looms large. While he aims to solidify and deepen the UK-US alliance, the unpredictable nature of Trump’s presidency presents challenges.
When asked if he could trust Trump, given recent statements, the prime minister responded, “Yes, I’ve got a good relationship with him. As you know, I’ve met him, I’ve spoken to him on the phone, and this relationship between our two countries is a special relationship with a long history, forged as we fought wars together, as we traded together. And as I say, I want it to go from strength to strength.”
Regarding Trump’s perspective on Russia’s role in the conflict, Starmer said, “Of course, the president has been very clear about the peace that he wants—he’s right about that. We all want peace—the question is, how do we make sure it’s a lasting peace. There’s no issue between us on this.”
Earlier this week, the prime minister announced an increase in UK military spending to 2.5% of national income by 2027. This move, interpreted as an effort to align with US expectations, comes amid Trump’s frequent criticisms of European nations for not investing enough in defence. The increase will be financed by cuts to the foreign aid budget, a decision that has drawn criticism from international development charities and some members of Sir Keir’s own party.
(BBC)
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