Senior political producer
Sir Keir Starmer has reiterated his call for a US security guarantee in Ukraine to deter Vladimir Putin from invading again, as he prepares to meet Donald Trump.
Speaking on the plane to Washington DC, Sir Keir said he hopes the UK-US relationship could go from “strength to strength”
But the two leaders appear to be at odds over the importance of US security guarantees for Ukraine as part of any peace deal there.
Sir Keir said discussions about potentially sending British troops to Ukraine were ongoing but he re-emphasised his belief in the importance of a so-called US “backstop”.
Asked what form he believed this backstop should take, he said: “Exactly what the configuration of that is, exactly what the backstop is, is obviously the subject of intense discussion but I’m not going to get ahead of myself on it, other than to say I’m very clear about what the principles are.”
In contrast, Trump has 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.”
The president did add that the expected deal between Washington and Kyiv over access to Ukrainian minerals was “great” for Ukraine “because they get us over there.”
“We will be on the land and that way there is going to be automatic security because nobody is going to be messing around with our people.”
It is not yet known how much security support European leaders are asking for from America, nor is the scale of any American manpower on the ground in Ukraine associated with a minerals deal.
The prime minister said: “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.
“My concern is if there is a ceasefire without a backstop, it will simply give him [Putin] the opportunity to wait and to come again because his ambition in relation to Ukraine is pretty obvious, I think, for all to see.”
After the visit from Sir Keir, Trump will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelensky has said the deal on minerals is preliminary and that he still wants further agreements, arguing that without security guarantees from the US “we won’t have a ceasefire, nothing will work.”
Foreign Secretary David Lammy, speaking to ITV’s Peston programme, sounded hopeful about America’s proposed deal.
“If US interests are on the ground in Ukraine, then that is the best security guarantee that the Ukrainians can have. So, I do hope they get that deal over the line in the next few days,” he said.
Sir Keir was notably guarded in his remarks in advance of Thursday’s meetings in the White House, such are the stakes and sensitivities around Ukraine, the Middle East and trade with America since Trump’s inauguration.
Strengthening and deepening the US-UK relationship might be his ambition, but it is far from guaranteed with such an unpredictable president.
But asked if he could trust Trump, given what he had said in recent weeks, the prime minister replied: “Yes, I’ve got a good relationship with him.
“As you know, 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.
“And as I say, I want it to go from strength to strength.”
Does he think President Trump sees Russia as the aggressor in Ukraine?
“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,” Sir Keir insisted.
Earlier this week, the prime minister announced the UK would boost military spending to 2.5% of national income by 2027, a move seen as an attempt to curry favour with the US president who has frequently attacked European countries for failing to spend more on defence.
The increase is being funded by a cut to the foreign aid budget which has angered international development charities and some of the prime minister’s own MPs.
In addition to the Ukraine war, talks are also expected to take in a discussion about artificial intelligence.
Downing Street wants what it calls “further integration” between the two countries’ technology sectors.
The potential flashpoints for Sir Keir are numerous and considerable – it is a landmark moment in his first year as prime minister.
