British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is scheduled to visit the White House on Thursday with a mission to convince U.S. President Donald Trump that lasting peace in Ukraine requires the involvement of Kyiv and European leaders as negotiations with Moscow progress. This visit highlights Europe’s growing concern regarding Trump’s strategy to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict, perceived as potentially granting excessive concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During his first Cabinet meeting of the second term, Trump expressed his intent to broker a favorable deal for both sides, emphasizing a concerted effort to aid Ukraine in reclaiming its territories. Trump’s newfound closeness to Russia, however, has unsettled longstanding U.S. allies in Europe. The administration’s recent exclusion of Ukrainian and European allies from negotiations with Russia and the refusal to join United Nations resolutions condemning Russia for the conflict indicate a pivot in U.S. foreign policy toward an “America First” approach.
The Trump administration is defending its actions amidst critiques, with Vice President JD Vance affirming that Trump remains committed to his diplomatic role without conceding anything significant to Russia. Upcoming discussions between Trump and Starmer, ahead of a White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, are crucial. The anticipated agreement between the U.S. and Ukraine involves American access to Ukraine’s critical minerals, despite Zelenskyy’s reservations on absent U.S. security assurances.
Trump’s stance on security guarantees remains cautious, suggesting a shift of responsibility to European nations. Nonetheless, should a cease-fire be negotiated, it is anticipated that European nations, led by Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, will propose deploying troops for a peacekeeping mission. The feasibility of such an initiative, however, remains questionable, with skepticism about Europe’s capacity to mobilize adequate forces for Ukraine without a broader peace settlement involving Russia.
Zelenskyy, currently en route to Washington, is actively engaging other European leaders, including Ireland’s Prime Minister Micheál Martin, who signaled willingness to contribute, potentially with peacekeepers. The consensus is firm on the improbability of U.S. troop participation, but Starmer and other European leaders seek U.S. support in intelligence and rapid response capabilities for the operation’s success.
Trump views the cease-fire talks as an opportunity to potentially revive economic ties with Russia, which have been strained by sanctions over the last three years. Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, emphasized potential economic cooperation with Russia, reiterating this sentiment on a televised appearance.
In addition, Starmer is organizing a summit in the United Kingdom focused on the Ukraine crisis, with attendance from international leaders, including Zelenskyy. In tandem with these diplomatic efforts, Starmer has committed to ramping up the U.K.’s defense budget, increasing military expenditures to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and aiming for 3% by 2035. This move is likely to be well-received by Trump, who has previously criticized European defense spending levels.
Discussion topics during Starmer’s visit extend beyond Ukraine, addressing economic stability, border security, AI, and technological collaboration. Emphasizing the necessity of European contributions to global defense, Starmer will advocate for unified action among allies to confront the increasing global threat landscape. His administration is also eager to forge deeper AI and technology partnerships with the U.S., distancing from the EU’s regulatory approach in an effort to attract American technology investments.
Peter Mandelson, the British ambassador to the U.S., underscored the importance of the U.S.-U.K. alliance during such pivotal times, highlighting shared cultural and technological bonds and their joint efforts in facing global adversaries.
This reporting does not reference individual journalists and has been revised to ensure it accurately represents the current geopolitical landscape, including the proper identification of French leadership.
