London, Feb. 27, (PA Media/dpa/GNA) – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will push a reluctant US President Donald Trump to provide a US “backstop” to prevent Russian President Vladimir Putin launching a fresh assault on Ukraine after any peace deal.
Trump has said he would not provide security guarantees “beyond very much”, insisting it was for Europeans to protect Ukraine.
Starmer is prepared to commit British troops to a peacekeeping mission but believes that US promises are vital to “deter Putin from coming again”.
Ahead of his talks at the White House on Thursday, Starmer said Trump can be trusted and understands that Putin started the war in Ukraine.
Trump, who has launched efforts with Russia to find a quick peace deal to end the conflict, has called Zelensky a “dictator” and suggested he was to blame for starting the war.
But Starmer said it was clear that Putin was “the aggressor” – and that there were “no issues” with Trump on that.
He told reporters travelling with him to Washington: “They are the aggressor. They have invaded and occupied a sovereign country in Europe, and they bear full responsibility for the conflict.”
Asked if Trump knew that, 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.”
Setting out his call for US commitments to Ukraine after a peace deal, Starmer said: “The reason I say the backstop is so important is that the security guarantee has to be sufficient to deter Putin from coming again.”
While Starmer was flying to Washington, the US president said: “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.”
Starmer said the offer of British troops to a peacekeeping mission if there is a deal – with the risk of being on the front line if Russia invades again – was “a decision I’ve not taken lightly”.
“I want a lasting peace, and I don’t think that will happen if there isn’t an effective deterrence to Putin,” Sir Keir said.
“The UK will play its part in that with others but we need a US backstop. Because I don’t think there will be a deterrent to Putin if we don’t have one.”
GNA