Trump trusts Putin to ‘keep his word’ and more conclusions of Starmer’s conversations in Ukraine
President Donald Trump said Thursday that he believed that President Vladimir Putin “would fulfill his word” if an agreement with Russia is reached to end his invasion of Ukraine, and that Great Britain could “take care of themselves” if his peace maintenance troops were attacked, although he later added that the United States “would help.”
The comments occurred when Trump received the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer in the White House, since the president of the United States says that Europe must take the security guarantees initiative for Ukraine.
The Starmer and Emmanuel Macron de France arrived in Washington this week after Europe and Ukraine were exclusive of peace conversations between the United States and Russia in Saudi Arabia.
“We agree that the story must be on the side of the peacemaker, not the invader,” Starmer said promptly during a press conference with Trump, who had previously avoided saying that Russia had attacked Ukraine. “Then, bets could not be higher. And we are determined to work together to offer a good business.”
The president of the United States, Donald Trump (R), celebrates a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 27, 2025.
Saul Loeb/AFP through Getty Images
Zelenskyy of Ukraine is expected to travel to the capital of the nation on Friday to sign a proposed agreement that allows the United States to access the income of the wealth of critical minerals and other resources of Ukraine.
Here are the key conclusions of the Trump-Starmer meeting.
Trump believes that Putin ‘will keep his word’ in a deal
Trump said he did not believe that Putin would try to reinvate Ukraine after the war if the United States did not provide a “support” in the region along with European peacemakers.
Speaking more about his relationship with Putin, Trump said they know each other for a long time “and to go through Russia’s” deception “gave him some confidence in Russian leaders as negotiations develop.
“I think he will fulfill his word,” Trump said about Putin.
President Donald Trump meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 27, 2025.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
Starmer did not get almost so far when he was asked if he agreed with Trump’s evaluation.
“I think my points of view on Putin are quite well rehearsed and well known,” Starmer replied. He added that if there is an agreement, it is “really important that Putin knows that this agreement, a historical agreement that I hope will occur, is there, is there and it is a lasting treatment and we can deal with any inclination that has to go again or go further.”
Trump says that the British can “take care” in Ukraine
Trump was asked if the United States would come in the aid of Great Britain if the British troops deployed to maintain peace in Ukraine were attacked by Russia. Starmer said the United Kingdom is ready to “ready to put boots on the floor and airplanes in the air to support an agreement.”
“You know, I’ve always found about the British, they don’t need much help. They can take care of themselves,” Trump replied with Starmer sitting next to him.
“It seems that it is evasive, but it is not evasive. You know, the British are, they have been incredible soldiers, incredible military, and they can take care of themselves,” he continued. “But if they need help, I will always be with the British, agree? I will always be with them. But they don’t need help.”
President Donald Trump offers comments during a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the Oval Office of the White House on February 27, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Later, Trump was asked if he supported article 5 of NATO, which describes that an attack on an ally is considered an attack against all allies, and if worried, it could be triggered if European peace forces end in Ukraine after the war.
“I support it,” Trump said about article 5. “I don’t think we are going to have any reason for it. I think we are going to have a very successful peace and I think it will be a lasting peace.”
Trump says that the United States will be “working” in Ukraine while dodging peace maintenance
When he repeatedly asked what role the United States will play in the security of Ukraine after the war, Trump refused to discuss any guarantee or participation of the United States in the maintenance of peace, but argued that a mineral resources agreement would serve as a kind of “support.”
“We will have many people working there,” he said. “And so, in that sense, it is very good. It is a support, one could say. I do not think that anyone will play if we are there with many workers and having to do with rare earths and other things we need for our country, and we appreciate it very much.”
Trump said the approach must first be to ensure an agreement between Russia and Ukraine before talking about the maintenance of peace in the region.
President Donald Trump (R) celebrates a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 27, 2025.
Jim Watson/AFP through Getty Images
“I don’t like talking about the maintenance of peace until we have a deal,” he said.
Starmer, on the other hand, made clear his opinion that security guarantees are critical. “If there is a deal, we have to make sure it is an agreement that lasts,” he told Trump.
Trump when calling Zelenskyy a dictator: “I said that?”
While preparing to receive Zelenskyy in Washington on Friday, Trump seemed to try to soften his previous comments with the Ukrainian leader.
When asked if he still believed that Zelenskyy was a dictator, Trump replied: “I said that? I can’t believe that I said that.”
Trump called Zelenskyy a “dictator without elections” in a publication on social networks last week. He has remarkably refused to apply the same term to Putin.
Trump was asked if he will apologize to Zelenskyy for the comment when they are.
“I think we are going to have a very good meeting tomorrow … we are going to get along very well, agree? We have a lot of respect. I have a lot of respect for him,” Trump said. “We have given him many teams and a lot of money, but they have fought very bravely. It doesn’t matter how you believe it, they have really fought.”
President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the East of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 27, 2025.
Jim Watson/AFP through Getty Images
Trump now says they will try to recover the land of Ukraine
After saying before it was not realistic for Ukraine to return to his borders prior to the war, Trump said he will try to recover some of this in the peace conversations.
“Well, they have fought a lot and hard on earth, and you and I will be arguing that, and we will certainly try to get everything we can,” Trump said.
The president was also asked if there had been any discussion about Crimea’s return to Ukraine.
“There were many areas that were taken. Yes, we have talked about it. Many of the sea lines have been taken, and we will talk about it. And we will see if we can recover or recover a lot for Ukraine, if possible. We are going to see about that,” Trump said.
At the same time, it firmly ruled out the NATO membership for Ukraine. “That will not happen,” he said.
