US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he trusted Russian President Putin not to violate the terms of a potential peace deal with Ukraine, even as he refused to pledge US military support for a peacekeeping force. “I think he’ll keep his word,” Trump said of Putin as he hosted Britain’s PM, Keir Starmer, at the White House. Of Putin, the president said, “I’ve known him for a long time now.”
Trump’s comments underscored his embrace of Putin ahead of meeting with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In the opening weeks of his presidency, Trump has ended the diplomatic isolation of Russia, falsely accused Ukraine of starting the war with Russia and repeatedly disparaged Zelensky, including by calling him a “dictator.” He appeared to change his tune Thursday. “I have a lot of respect for him,” Trump said. Earlier in the news conference, when asked if he still thought Zelensky was a dictator, Trump deadpanned: “Uh, did I say that? I can’t believe I said that.”
Starmer was the latest in a series of European leaders to come to Washington hoping to reason with Trump.
“History must be on the side of the peacemaker, not the invader,” Starmer said as he stood next to Trump. “The UK is ready to put boots on the ground and planes in the air to support a deal, working closely with our allies. Because that is the only way peace will last,” the PM said. But his efforts to nudge Trump in Ukraine’s direction appeared not to have not worked. Trump made no mention of US forces supporting a peacekeeping mission that included UK troops.
In the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump was asked what would happen if Britain sent peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, only for Russia to renege on a peace deal. Would the Americans come to the aid of the British in Ukraine? In the span of a minute, Trump seemed to say no (“They can take care of themselves very well”), and then yes (“If they need help, I’ll always be with the British”), before landing back on no (“They don’t need help”). “Could you take on Russia by yourselves?” Trump asked Starmer. Uneasy laughter broke out in the room.
