The US President Donald Trump has rejected Sir Keir Starmer’s demands to make security guarantees for Ukraine before talks take place in Washington.
The British Prime Minister has warned that Valdimir Putin will attack again unless there security guarantees underwritten by the US.
Starmer made it quite clear that British troops are being considered to be sent to Ukraine as part of a wider European forces and this decision will “not be taken lightly” and Russia is strongly objecting to this and threatening this could cause further conflict.
Speaking to journalists on the flight to Washington 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 because my concern is if there is a ceasefire without a backstop, it will simply give him the opportunity to wait and to come again because his ambition in relation to Ukraine is pretty obvious.”
Before talks have even started Trump has dismissed Starmer’s request, the US President said, “I’m not going to make security guarantees beyond very much.”
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He added: “We’re going to have Europe do that because… we’re talking about Europe is their next door neighbour, but we’re making sure everything goes well.”
Starmer is wanting President Trump to put a “US backstop” on Russia’s war in Ukraine which will “deter Putin from coming again” at Ukraine.
Starmer added, “Yes, I’ve got a good relationship with him.
“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. I want it to go from strength to strength.”
Starmer was asked if Putin will agree to European peacekeepers, he said, “I’m not answering to Putin.
“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 a 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.”
