Washington, Feb 27 (EFE). – United States President Donald Trump had a cordial meeting with United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday but ignored the request that Washington provide a “backstop” to guarantee a European-led contingent of troops in the event of a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.
Trump did not mention a military guarantee, but instead brought up the mineral deal with Ukraine as an assurance to deter further Russian aggression.
“It’s a backstop, you could say, I don’t think anybody’s going to play around if we’re there with a lot of workers and having to do with rare earths and other things that we need for our country,” The US President said.
Throughout the meeting, Starmer used his charisma to win over Trump.
He handed him a letter inviting him to a state visit from King Charles III, and at the press conference he praised him for creating “a moment of tremendous opportunity to achieve a historic peace deal.”
However, the British prime minister was also adamant, reiterating several times that any peace deal in Ukraine must be “lasting” and “fair” to Kyiv.
One of the key moments of the appearance came when Starmer referenced the Second World War, to which Trump frequently alludes, to insist on the Allied principle that it was necessary to “win the peace.”
“It can’t be the peace that rewards the aggressor or that gives encouragement to regimes like Iran,” he said, adding that he and Trump agree that history “must be on the side of the peacemaker, not the invader.”
Ukraine-Trump Natural resources deal
Trump referred to the mineral deal in Ukraine on several occasions, which he said would include oil, gas, and rare earths, a key sector for technological development currently dominated by China.
“I think it’s going to be great for Ukraine. We’re going to be at the site, and we’ll be digging. We’ll be digging, dig, digging,” the US president said.
He has presented the pact as compensation for the billions of dollars in military aid sent to Ukraine, which he made clear again during the press conference.
“The American taxpayers will now effectively be reimbursed for the money and hundreds of billions of dollars poured into helping Ukraine defend itself,” he added.
UK is likely off the tariff hook
Aside from the war in Ukraine, the two leaders discussed the “reciprocal” tariffs on all US trading partners that Trump announced on Feb. 13, with the European Union being one of the main targets.
At Thursday’s press conference, Trump assured that there was a “very good chance” that his country and the UK would reach an agreement that could allow London to be exempted.
“In the case of these two great friendly countries, I think we could very well end up with a real trade deal where the tariffs wouldn’t be necessary,” Trump said.
When a reporter asked Trump if Starmer had managed to convince him, he replied with a smile: “He tried. He worked hard. I’ll tell you, he deserves whatever the hell they’re paying him over there, but he tried.”
Trump also said playfully that the UK could get rid of tariffs as it is a country where he has investments.
“I have investments there. I own Turnberry, I own Aberdeen, and I own a great place called Doonbeg in Ireland. So, I have a great warm spot for your country,” Trump said.
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