Trump says Putin will keep his word in a peace agreement with Ukraine

President states that the presence of American workers in Ukraine would prevent Russian aggression after conversations with Keir Strmer

Donald Trump insisted that Vladimir Putin would “maintain his word” in a peace agreement to Ukraine, arguing that American workers who extract essential minerals in the country would act as security support to prevent Russia from invading again.

During the long awaited conversations at the White House with the Prime Minister, Keir Stmerer, the US President said it was possible to trust that Putin would not violate any agreement, which could be intended to return to Ukraine as much land as possible that was taken by Russia during the brutal three-year conflict.

But sitting alongside Stmerer at the Oval Hall, answering questions from journalists, Trump refused to commit to sending US forces to support a Peace Maintenance Leaded by Europe, although he said the US “always” would help the British military in the unlikely case they need.

He later indicated that the US would make “big trade agreements” with the UK that could progress “very quickly,” adding that Stmerer tried to persuade him not to impose fares, saying, “He won whatever they pay him there.”

The US President also seemed to make a significant concession on the Chagos Islands, saying he was “inclined” to support the agreement closed by Stmerer, who in the negotiations handed a letter from King Charles offering Trump a second unprecedented state visit.

The relationship between the two men seemed friendly for much of the meeting, and Trump praised Starmer as “an extraordinary person” and “a very special person.”

Negotiations occurred at the most precarious time for European security in decades, when the new US government was aligned with Russia, breaking a transatlantic consensus of years over Ukraine.

The Prime Minister took advantage of the meeting, just 24 hours before Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, traveling to Washington to sign a critical mineral agreement to press the president to provide security guard for Kiev if a peace agreement is guaranteed to prevent Russia from launching another attack.

After the bilateral gathering, Stmerr said: “We discussed a plan today to achieve a hard and fair peace. That Ukraine will help shape. This is supported by force to prevent Putin from returning to more.

“I am working closely with other European leaders in this and I am sure the UK is ready to put boots on the floor and aircraft in the air to support an agreement. Working together with our allies, because this is the only way for peace to last. ”

Strmer emphasized that any agreement had to be lasting, which was why security guarantees were so crucial. But Trump suggested that maintaining peace would be “the easy part” and the difficult part would be to close the deal.

Trump did not provide a firm commitment to security guarantees, but suggested that the US has a multibillion dollar participation in the Ukraine rare land sector would be a sufficient impediment to Russia.

“We will work there. We will have many people working and, in this sense, is very good. It’s a backstop, you could say. I don’t think anyone will play if we are there with many workers and having to deal with rare lands and other things we need for our country. ”

Asked whether the return of Russia’s territory could play a role in any peace agreement to Ukraine, Trump added: “We will certainly try as much as we can.”

The US President seemed to disagree with Stmerer’s suggestion that without US military support Putin would invade again. “I don’t think. I think when we have an agreement, it will be the deal, ”he said.

“I think he will keep his word. I have known him for a long time and I think he will keep it. I don’t believe he will violate his word. I don’t think he will come back when we make a deal. I think the agreement will stay now. ”

However, Trump reiterated his support to the NATO principle of collective defense, saying, “I support. I don’t think we’ll have any reason for that. I think we’ll have a very successful peace. ”

He said the British had an “incredible army” that “did not need much help” and could “take care of himself” very well, but added that if the UK peace forces were attacked, “if they needed help, I would always be with the British.”

Trump also distanced himself from his previous observations by falsely calling dictator Zelenskyy. “I said that? I don’t believe I said that, ”he said, before admitting that the relationship between the two men had been a little“ annoyed ”about financial support, but was now on firmer.

In another sign of a healing relationship between the two, Trump praised Zelenskyy as “very brave” and said he got along “very well” with him.

He added: “We gave him a lot of equipment and a lot of money, but they fought very bravely, no matter how you imagine, they really fought. Someone has to use this equipment and they were very brave in this regard. ”

A trade agreement between the UK and the US -centered US, although British authorities have suggested that this may require more deregulation. Trump did not rule out imposing tariffs on the UK, but said he had a “hot point” on the country, which was in a very different place “of the EU, highlighting his own investments in Scotland.

He added that Starmer tried to persuade him not to introduce rates, as both countries had a balanced business relationship. “We have a very good chance of coming to a business agreement that can be really fantastic for both countries.”

In the conversation just a little concise of the session at the Oval Hall, Stmerer reacted to Trump’s vice president, after Vance repeated some of his criticism of the alleged lack of freedom of expression in European countries.

Asked about this, Vance spoke about “violations of freedom of expression that actually affect not only British – of course what British do in their own country depends on them – but also affect American technology companies and, by extension, US citizens, so it’s something we’ll talk about today at lunch.”

Stmerer immediately answered: “Well, we have freedom of expression for a long time, a long time in the UK and it will last for a long, long time. Certainly, we would not like to reach US citizens, and we do not want it, and this is absolutely certain, but regarding freedom of expression in the UK, I am very proud of our history there. ”

Originally published by The Guardian on 27/02/2025

By Pippa Crerar – Political Publisher