ALBAWABA- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House for pivotal talks on the future of the Ukraine war and the NATO alliance.
Their discussions highlighted stark differences in their approaches to Ukraine’s security, with Trump confident that a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia is within reach, while Starmer emphasized the need for continued Western guarantees.
When asked by reporters whether a peace deal could still be achieved, Trump responded, “We can. We will.” However, the two leaders clashed on what role the U.S. should play post-agreement.
Trump reiterated his stance that Europe should take the lead in providing security guarantees for Ukraine, saying, “We’re going to have Europe do that.” Meanwhile, Starmer stressed that for peace to be lasting, the U.S. must act as a security "backstop" for any European-led peacekeeping efforts.
During their Oval Office meeting, Trump was questioned about whether the U.S. would assist British troops if they were attacked by Russian forces while on a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.
His initial response was evasive: “You know, I’ve always found out about the British—they don’t need much help. They can take care of themselves very well.”
He later added, “If they need help, I’ll always be with the British.” Starmer quickly reinforced the strength of the U.S.-UK alliance, calling it “the greatest alliance for prosperity and security the world has ever seen.”
The meeting came amid growing concerns in Europe over Trump’s shifting foreign policy, his closer ties to Moscow, and his demands for U.S. allies to contribute more to their own defense.
Starmer, seeking to reassure Washington of Europe’s commitment, signaled that the UK will increase defense spending.
A senior Trump administration official welcomed Starmer’s pledges, suggesting they align with Trump’s broader push for Europe to shoulder more responsibility in global security.
Tensions surfaced when Starmer corrected Trump’s assertion that European nations “get their money back” after providing aid to Ukraine. “We don’t get the money back,” Starmer pointed out, explaining that much of the UK’s support was given as direct aid rather than loans.
Trump, in turn, blamed former President Joe Biden for not structuring U.S. military aid as repayable.
The meeting, described by former British ambassador Sir Peter Westmacott as one of the “most consequential” U.S.-UK summits since World War II, underscored the evolving dynamics in transatlantic relations.
It followed a similar visit by French President Emmanuel Macron earlier in the week, where disagreements over Ukraine and Russia also took center stage.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to visit Washington next, where he is expected to sign a rare-earth minerals agreement with Trump—one that notably includes no specific security guarantees for Kyiv.
