Starmer set to meet Trump amid US-Ukraine support concerns

WASHINGTON — On Thursday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to visit the White House to persuade President Donald Trump that durable peace in Ukraine requires the involvement of Kyiv and European leaders in ongoing negotiations with Moscow.

The visit comes just days following French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron’s trip to the U.S. This highlights the growing European apprehension over Trump’s fervent pursuit of resolving Russia’s conflict with Ukraine, which is seen as possibly conceding too much to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“We’re going to do our best to broker the finest deal possible for both parties,” Trump stated on Wednesday during the first Cabinet meeting of his second term. “For Ukraine, we’ll strive to make an advantageous pact so they can reclaim as much territory as feasible,” he continued.

Trump’s decision to approach Russia has left traditional European allies uneasy, as they struggle to keep up with his administration’s commitment to revising U.S. foreign policy in line with his “America First” philosophy.

Recently, the Trump administration engaged in discussions with Russia without involving Ukrainian or other European representatives. Moreover, the U.S. abstained from endorsing U.N. resolutions holding Russia accountable for the conflict. This evolving stance towards Ukraine is fostering a significant shift in transatlantic relations.

However, the administration denies allegations that Trump is sidelining Europe or hastily seeking a settlement with Putin.

“He hasn’t surrendered anything to anyone,” asserted Vice President JD Vance. “He’s fulfilling his role as a diplomat.”

Trump’s meeting with Starmer precedes his scheduled meeting on Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. During that encounter, they are anticipated to finalize a contentious deal that grants the U.S. access to Ukraine’s crucial minerals used in aerospace, defense, and nuclear industries. Zelenskyy had hesitated in approving the agreement without explicit U.S. security guarantees.

Yet, when announcing plans for the agreement’s signing, Trump was noncommittal about offering U.S. security guarantees.

“I’m not going to make security guarantees … in depth,” Trump commented. “Europe will undertake that role.”

Indeed, should a truce be achieved, Starmer and Macron concurred to deploy troops for a potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine to avert renewed hostilities between Ukraine and Russia.

The British prime minister confirmed that he will host an international leaders meeting in the U.K. on Sunday, with a focus on Ukraine. Zelenskyy is expected to be present.

Starmer also revealed plans to increase the U.K.’s defense expenditure—an issue of interest to Trump, who has frequently criticized European nations for inadequate defense funding.

The U.K. government intends to boost military spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, earlier than anticipated, and aims for 3% by 2035.

In addition to Ukraine, Starmer pointed out that conversations will center on “economic stability, secured borders, and national security,” alongside collaboration on AI and other advanced technologies.

He will emphasize the importance of Europe “taking its role in global defense and enhancing collective European security.”

“The world is increasingly perilous, and our unity with allies is more crucial than ever,” Starmer noted. “We have significant opportunities to deepen our special relationship, promote growth and security, and enhance life quality for working individuals in both our nations.”

Starmer also aims to address “potential benefits from technological and AI collaborations,” his office mentioned, encompassing ambitious “shared moonshot missions across top technologies including quantum and AI, besides a deeper space partnership.”

Britain is aiming to bypass the European Union’s stringent AI regulations to establish leadership in the field.

Recently, the U.K., alongside the U.S., refrained from signing a joint declaration at an AI summit organized by Macron in Paris—perceived as an effort to strengthen ties with Washington and attract investment from American tech companies. Starmer’s office stated that the prime minister “will advocate for increased integration between the nations’ tech sectors to establish them as the world’s most effective and ambitious technology arenas.”