(CLO) US President Donald Trump said he was confident Russia would abide by any ceasefire in Ukraine during talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House on Thursday.
Mr Trump stressed that he trusted Russian President Vladimir Putin to honour any ceasefire with Ukraine, contradicting Mr Starmer's warning that the lack of US "protection" for a deal would put Kiev at risk in the future.
"I think he'll keep his word," Mr Trump told reporters sitting next to Starmer in the Oval Office when asked about Putin. "I've talked to him, I've known him a long time, I don't think he'll break his word."
US President Donald Trump meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House on February 27. Photo: X/KeirStarmer
The UK and France have both offered to deploy peacekeepers to Ukraine but want guarantees from the US that help will include aerial and satellite surveillance and possibly air power.
Mr Trump added that the UK could "take care of itself, but if they need help, I will always support the British people". Earlier, Mr Starmer sounded a skeptical note, saying on the plane to Washington that a "ceasefire without a deterrent" would leave Russia "waiting and coming back" to Kiev.
The British prime minister told Mr Trump he wanted to “work with him to ensure that the peace deal is lasting” but also that it was “a deal that no one breaks”.
Mr Starmer then presented Trump with a letter from King Charles III inviting him to an unprecedented second state visit by a US president. “This has never happened before, this is unprecedented,” Mr Starmer said.
The British prime minister has also announced an increase in defence spending to please Mr Trump ahead of his trip to the US. A Trump administration official said they were “very pleased” by Mr Starmer’s announcement on Tuesday that UK defence spending would rise to 2.5% by 2027.
Mr Trump will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday, where the two leaders are expected to sign a deal giving the US access to Ukraine’s rare minerals, which Mr Trump has demanded as payment for US military aid.
Mr Starmer’s visit comes days after a similar visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss security in Ukraine and Europe. Mr Trump has long pushed for European nations to shoulder more of the burden for Ukraine’s defence and their own.
Hoang Huy (according to WH, Guardian, AFP)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/ong-trump-noi-tin-tuong-nga-se-tuan-thu-lenh-ngung-ban-trong-cuoc-gap-thu-tuong-anh-post336449.html
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