UK PM Starmer warns against Ukraine peace deal that rewards Russia
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged US President Donald Trump to avoid any Ukraine peace deal that would reward Russian aggression or embolden other adversarial regimes.
Speaking at a joint news conference after an Oval Office meeting, Starmer welcomed Trump’s commitment to peace but cautioned against a settlement that compromises Ukraine’s security.
“We must get this right,” Starmer emphasized. “There is a famous slogan in the United Kingdom from after the Second World War: ‘We have to win the peace.’ A peace deal must not reward the aggressor or encourage dangerous regimes like Iran.”
Trump reaffirmed his push for a swift resolution to the war, stating, “It’ll either happen fairly soon or not at all.” He highlighted progress in negotiations and downplayed tensions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom he recently called a “dictator.”
Starmer praised Trump’s peace efforts but stressed that the UK stands ready to provide military support for a lasting settlement. “We are prepared to put boots on the ground and planes in the air to support a fair deal,” he said.
Trump, however, remained focused on an economic agreement with Ukraine, which he sees as a security guarantee. He dismissed calls for broader military commitments and instead promoted a US-Ukraine minerals deal as a deterrent to future Russian aggression.
“If we’re there with a lot of workers in rare earths and other essential industries, I don’t think anyone will play around,” Trump stated, hinting at economic leverage over military intervention.
Starmer also extended a formal invitation from King Charles for Trump to visit the UK, which the US President accepted, though no date has been set.
Meanwhile, European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have voiced concerns over Trump’s stance on the war. They argue that excluding Ukraine from ceasefire negotiations and reducing US military guarantees could lead to further instability in Europe.
Zelensky is set to visit Washington on Friday to finalize the minerals agreement, which Trump portrays as a way to recoup American aid to Ukraine. However, the deal lacks specific security guarantees for Ukraine, a US official confirmed.
With ongoing tensions and Russia continuing its military actions, Starmer reiterated that peace must be built on strength, not concessions. “History must side with the peacemaker, not the invader,” he concluded.
