"It can't be peace that rewards the aggressor" – British PM
Photo: Claudia Greco/Pool
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stressed at a joint press conference with President Donald Trump that Ukraine needs peace, but it cannot be a reward for the aggressor.
According to Ukrinform, he said this after talks at the White House.
"We must achieve peace, and that is what we must do now, because it can't be a peace that rewards the aggressor or encourages regimes like Iran," Starmer stressed, apparently meaning that peace on the aggressor's terms is unacceptable.
He noted that in a few weeks, the United States and Britain will celebrate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe.
"Britain and America fought side by side to make this one of the greatest events in our history," the prime minister said. "We stand side by side today, and we are now focused on bringing an end to the barbaric war in Ukraine."
Starmer said he welcomed Trump's "deep personal commitment" to "making peace and stopping the killing."
"You have created a wonderful opportunity to achieve a historic peace deal that I think will be celebrated in Ukraine and around the world," he said of the US president. "But we must get it right."
Starmer said, "History must be on the side of the peacemaker, not the aggressor, so the stakes are higher than ever, and we are determined to work together to make it happen."
The British Prime Minister said that he had discussed with Trump a plan to achieve a lasting and fair peace, in which "Ukraine can rely … on force to prevent Putin from returning."
Starmer stressed that he was working closely with other European leaders on this issue. According to him, Britain is ready to send "troops on the ground and planes in the air to support the agreement with allies, because this is the only way to keep the peace."
He added that Britain would provide Ukraine with more military assistance this year than ever and assume greater responsibility for security.
"We hope this will be a long-term agreement … And we are working on this with other European countries, including France and NATO, and on Sunday I will host 18 countries' leaders to continue our discussions," Starmer said.
When asked whether Putin can be trusted, the Prime Minister noted that his views on the Russian leader are well known. So the agreement must be a long-term arrangement, not a temporary measure.
"It is essential that Putin knows that we can deal with any desire he has to go on the offensive again," the British prime minister concluded.
US President Donald Trump believes that Russian leader Vladimir Putin will "keep his word" and not attack again after concluding a peace agreement with Ukraine.
When the White House Chief of Staff was asked whether Putin can be trusted, Trump replied: "Trust, but verify."
"I think we need to verify, because you never know what will happen. You said they will cheat sometimes and are the worst people in the world. But I know others who guarantee they are 100% honest but will cheat. So you never know what you will get," the American leader noted.
For reference:
Keir Starmer has handed Donald Trump an invitation from King Charles III to pay a state visit to the United Kingdom.
Starmer gave Trump "a letter from His Majesty the King, in which he not only conveys his best wishes, but also invites the President and the First Lady to make a state visit to the United Kingdom."
The Prime Minister added that this would be Trump's "unprecedented second state visit."
"This has never happened before. It is incredible. It will be historic," he added, noting that the American leader had accepted the invitation.
Starmer noted that teams from both countries will now work to determine a date for the visit. Queen Elizabeth II hosted Donald Trump on a state visit in 2019.
It should be noted that on Thursday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with US President Donald Trump in Washington. Ukraine was one of the main issues on the agenda of the talks.
As reported, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer presented a peacekeeping plan to US President Donald Trump that involves deploying up to 30,000 European troops in Ukraine to ensure a ceasefire. The document proposes US participation, although without the deployment of US troops in the country.
