Trump says he trusts Putin, as UK PM pushes Ukraine guarantees
Washington, United States (AFP) February 27 - Donald Trump said he trusted Russia's Vladimir Putin to stick to any Ukraine ceasefire Thursday, as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer tried to win security guarantees for Kyiv -- with the help of a royal invitation to visit Britain.
Trump struck a friendly tone as he and Starmer met in Washington, and even walked back a comment about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky being a dictator that alarmed European capitals, saying: "Did I say that?"
But Trump also insisted that he trusted Putin to honor any truce with Ukraine, contradicting Starmer's warnings that a lack of a US "backstop" for a deal would encourage Putin to stage a repeat of his February 2022 invasion.
US President Donald Trump holds a press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 27, 2025. Starmer is meeting Trump to plead for a US backstop to any Ukraine ceasefire, insisting it would be the only way to stop Russia's Vladimir Putin from invading again. Starmer arrived in Washington late Wednesday to build on a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron, amid growing concerns in Europe that the US leader is about to sell Kyiv short in negotiations with Putin. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)
Britain and France have both offered to deploy peacekeeping troops for Ukraine but want US guarantees of help, including aerial and satellite surveillance and possible air power.
"I think he'll keep his word," Trump told reporters as he sat alongside Starmer in the Oval Office when asked about Putin.
"I spoke to him, I've known him for a long time now, I don't believe he's going to violate his word."
Trump added that Britain can "take care of themselves, but if they need help, I'll always be with the British."
Starmer had said on the plane to the US capital that a "ceasefire without a backstop" would let Putin "wait and to come again" at Kyiv.
- 'Did I say that?' -
The British premier told Trump at the White House that he wanted to "work with you to make sure that peace deal is enduring" but that it was also a "deal that nobody breaches."
Starmer then handed Trump -- a long-term fan of Britain's royals -- a letter from King Charles III inviting him for an unprecedented second state visit by a US president.
"This has never happened before, this is unprecedented," said Starmer.
The invitation was a clear attempt to woo Trump amid growing concerns in Europe that the US leader is ready to sell Kyiv short and take Russia's position on a deal.
Those fears intensified last week when Trump called Zelensky a "dictator without elections" -- but with Starmer at his side, Trump jokingly downplayed the jibe.
"Did I say that? I can't believe I said that," Trump responded when asked whether he stood by the comment he made on his Truth Social network. "Next question."
Trump will host Zelensky at the White House on Friday where the two leaders are expected to sign a deal giving Washington access to Ukraine's rare minerals, which Trump has demanded as payback for US military aid.
Zelensky had hoped the deal would contain US security guarantees but it appears to omit them.
- 'Trade-off' -
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.
Trump has long pushed for European nations to take more of the burden for Ukraine's defense, and their own.
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 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 will hold a joint press conference with the US president, has pitched himself as a "bridge" between Trump and Europe on Ukraine.
The British premier came bearing another gift for Trump -- an increase in defense spending.
A Trump administration official said they were "very pleased" by Starmer's announcement on Tuesday that UK defense spending will rise to 2.5 percent by 2027.
Trump softens tone but Starmer leaves without Ukraine security pledges
Washington, United States (AFP) February 27 - Donald Trump took a softer tone on Ukraine truce talks Thursday as he hosted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer -- but refused to give any firm commitments on the US security guarantees Europe desperately wants.
In an upbeat meeting, the US president handed Starmer a win on a possible trade deal, while the British leader pandered to Trump's love of the royal family with a invitation for a state visit from King Charles III.
Trump, who has alarmed European capitals with his sudden pivot towards Russia, said there had been "a lot of progress" towards a deal to end the conflict in Ukraine and that negotiations were at a crucial stage.
"It'll either be fairly soon or it won't be at all," Trump told a press conference with Starmer.
The mercurial US president played down an earlier rift with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which had compounded fears that Trump would cut out Ukraine from negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"I have a lot of respect for him," Trump said of Zelensky.
Earlier in the Oval Office he also walked back an earlier jibe that the Ukranian was a dictator, saying: Did I say that? I can't believe I said that."
- 'Rewards the aggressor' -
But on the US security "backstop" that Britain and France want in exchange for deploying peacekeepers to Ukraine in the event of a deal with Russia to end the war, Trump remained non-committal.
The US president said he was "open to many things" in terms of security guarantees but that he wanted to get a Russia-Ukraine deal in place first.
Trump added that he thought Putin would "keep his word" -- rejecting Starmer's warnings that a ceasefire without a US backstop would let Russia invade Ukraine again.
It made Starmer the second leader in the space of a week to leave Washington empty-handed on Ukraine, after French President Emmanuel Macron also tried to persuade Trump on Monday.
"We have to win the peace," Starmer said at the joint news conference. "It can't be peace that rewards the aggressor."
But the British premier tried to show that he was willing to step up in Ukraine, as Trump repeatedly urges European nations to do contribute more to their continent's defense.
"I'm clear that the UK is ready to put boots on the ground and planes in the air to support a deal," Starmer said.
British officials had earlier called for US support including aerial and satellite intelligence, and air power if necessary.
- 'Truly historic' -
Starmer will otherwise be heading home happy from a meeting with Trump, who praised him as a "tough negotiator."
Trump held out the prospect of a "great" post-Brexit trade deal that could help Britain avoid the tariffs he has threatened against other countries at the start of his second term.
"He tried. He was working hard, I'll tell you that," Trump said with a chuckle when asked if the British premier had persuaded him not to impose the levies.
In a carefully choreographed moment in the Oval Office, Starmer also handed Trump a letter from the king inviting him for an unprecedented second state visit by a US president.
"This has never happened before," said Starmer. "This is truly historic."
The US president said he was "honored" and would attend with First Lady Melania Trump.
But on Ukraine, the world will now be carefully watching Trump's meeting with Zelensky at the White House on Friday.
The two leaders will sign a huge deal giving Washington exclusive access to Ukraine's rare minerals, which Trump has demanded as payback for US military aid to Kyiv.
"We'll be dig, dig, digging," Trump told reporters.
Zelensky had hoped the deal would contain US security guarantees but it appears to omit them.
Talks between US and Russian officials -- launched after a shock phone call between Trump and Putin just over weeks ago -- are continuing with Ukraine frozen out.
Putin said Thursday the initial talks "give some hope" of resolving "problems" like the Ukraine conflict.
But the Kremlin said giving back Ukrainian regions it claims to have annexed during its invasion -- which Trump said was possible as part of a future peace deal -- was "non negotiable."
