WASHINGTON – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed the historically close U.S.-U.K. relationship at a White House meeting with President Donald Trump as he sought to mend a strained transatlantic relationship triggered by disagreements over Ukraine and trade.
Starmer traveled to Washington on February 27 to urge Trump to guarantee Ukraine’s security should a deal be reached to end Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country, now in its fourth year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with Trump in Washington on February 28.
Trump, who took office a month ago, has moved aggressively to end the war in Ukraine, holding a lengthy phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month and sending his national security team to Saudi Arabia to meet their Russian counterparts.
Trump told reporters February 27 that Washington and Moscow have made "a lot of progress" toward a cease-fire.
The outreach to the Kremlin turned the United States's Russia policy of the past three years on its head and shocked European leaders, who feared Trump would cut a deal behind their backs that hurt Ukraine and weakened their own security.
Now, European leaders are traveling to Washington promising to step up their role in any settlement to steer the U.S. president away from what they worry could be an agreement that concedes too much to Russia and leaves them vulnerable.
SEE ALSO: Putin 'Hopes' Meeting Between U.S., Russian Officials Helps Thaw RelationsAt a White House news conference with Trump following their bilateral meeting, Starmer reiterated that Britain is ready to step up and contribute to a peacekeeping force in Ukraine if a deal is reached.
“The U.K. is ready to put boots on the ground and planes in the air to support a deal, working together with our allies, because that is the only way that peace will last,” Starmer said.
He cautioned against rushing to end the war at any cost.
“We have to get it right. We have to win the peace. It can’t be peace that rewards the aggressor. History must be on the side of the peacemaker, not the invader,” Starmer said.
Trump did not commit to backstopping a European troop presence, a key ask of Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, who traveled to Washington on February 24.
Starmer said he and Trump discussed a peace plan that "Ukraine will help shape" and that is "backed by strength to stop Putin coming back for more."
He added that teams from the United States and the U.K. "are going to be talking about how we make sure that deal sticks, is lasting, and enforced."
U.K. media said Starmer is seeking U.S. guarantees of air, intelligence, logistics, and communications support for a European peacekeeping force.
When asked about U.S. security guarantees, Trump said it was too early to discuss as a cease-fire had yet to be reached. Prior to his meeting with Starmer, Trump indicated a U.S. backstop wouldn’t be necessary because Putin could be trusted not to violate a peace deal.
That is not a view shared by European leaders or Zelenskyy. At his news conference with Trump, Macron said Putin had violated previous agreements with Ukraine, underscoring why strong deterrence that included a U.S. backstop was necessary.
Softer Language
In what perhaps is a positive sign for Kyiv, Trump noticeably softened his language on Ukraine during the news conference. He praised the country’s tenacity in defending its land and avoided criticizing the country or its leader when offered that chance by reporters.
Last week, Trump got into a spat with Zelenskyy, falsely blaming Ukraine for the war and calling the Ukrainian leader a “dictator” who doesn’t hold elections.
"I have a lot of respect for him. We've given him a lot of equipment and a lot of money, but they have fought very bravely," Trump said.
SEE ALSO: Exclusive: Russian Defector Leaks Files Revealing Shocking Scale of War CasualtiesTrump is due to meet Zelenskyy at the White House to sign a framework agreement on the development of mineral deposits, including rare earth metals and fossil fuels.
Trump says the deal will allow the United States to recoup some of the aid it has sent to Ukraine over the past three years while also stimulating Ukrainian economic growth.
“"It is like a huge economic development project. So it'll be good for both countries,” the U.S. president said.
Zelenskyy is also expected to ask Trump to continue sending weapons to Ukraine while the fighting continues and offering his country a security guarantee once it ends.
'Unprecedented' Invite
As he reached out to Russia earlier this month, Trump slammed his European allies, accusing them of unfair trade practices and underinvesting in their own security.
His vice president, JD Vance, lectured Europe about democracy and free speech during his address at the Munich Security Conference, alarming European officials.
Starmer is seeking to play the role of a "bridge" between Europe and Trump, leveraging the U.S.-U.K. "special relationship" that goes back decades.
"We're the closest of nations," Starmer said during the news conference.
"In a moment of real danger around the world, the relationship matters more than ever," he said, recalling how the United States and U.K. stood "side by side" during previous wars and should do so now in Ukraine.
In an attempt to bolster ties at a difficult time for transatlantic relations, Starmer handed Trump an invite from King Charles to a state visit. It would be Trump's second state visit to the U.K., which Starmer stressed was "unprecedented."