WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� British Prime Minister will visit the White House on Thursday to try to convince President that a lasting peace in Ukraine will endure only if Kyiv and European leaders are at the table as negotiations move forward with Moscow.
Starmer's trip, coming a few days after , reflects the that Trump's aggressive push to find an end to signals his willingness to concede too much to Russian President
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to do the best we can to make the best deal we can for both sides,鈥� Trump said Wednesday as he held the first Cabinet meeting of his second term. 鈥淔or Ukraine, we鈥檙e going to try very hard to make a good deal so that they can get as much (land) back as possible."
But the president's rapprochement with Russia has unsettled America's historic allies in Europe, who have found themselves on their heels with Trump returning to the White House with a determination to dramatically make over U.S. foreign policy to correspond with his 鈥淎merica First鈥� world view.
The Trump administration without Ukrainian or other European allies represented. And this week this at the U.N. blaming Russia for the war. The drifting White House view of Ukraine under Trump is leading to a tectonic shift in transatlantic relations.
But the administration is pushing back on the notion that Trump is ignoring Europe or that Trump is too eager in his push for settlement talks with Putin.
鈥淗e hasn鈥檛 conceded anything to anyone,鈥� Vice President said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 doing the job of a diplomat.鈥�
Trump's meeting with Starmer comes a day before he is to meet with Ukrainian President . In that meeting Friday, the on a contentious agreement that would give the U.S. access to , which are used in the aerospace, defense and nuclear industries. Zelenskyy had chafed at signing off on an agreement without specific security guarantees from the U.S.
But Trump, in announcing plans for the leaders to sign the agreement, was noncommittal about any coming American security guarantees.
鈥淚鈥檓 not going to make security guarantees ... very much,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to have Europe do that.鈥�
Indeed, if a truce can be reached, Starmer and have agreed to dispatch troops for to Ukraine to ensure that fighting between Ukraine and Russia doesn't flare up again.
The British prime minister confirmed Wednesday that he will host a meeting of international leaders in the U.K. on Sunday, focused on Ukraine. Zelenskyy is expected to attend.
Starmer also announced plans this week for the U.K. to bolster defense spending 鈥� an issue that should sit well with Trump, who has been critical that European allies are spending too little on defense.
The U.K. government to 2.5% of gross domestic product by 2027, years earlier than expected, and will aim to hit 3% by 2035.
Beyond the war in Ukraine, Starmer said the talks will home in on 鈥渁 stable economy, secure borders and national security,鈥� as well as cooperation on AI and other cutting-edge technology.
He鈥檒l stress that Europe must 鈥減lay its part on global defense and step up for the good of collective European security.鈥�
鈥淭he world is becoming ever more dangerous, and it is more important than ever that we are united with our allies,鈥� Starmer said. 鈥淭here are huge opportunities for us to deepen our special relationship, deliver growth and security, and improve the lives of working people in both our great nations.鈥�
Starmer is also keen to discuss 鈥渢he opportunities that further technology and AI partnerships could deliver,鈥� his office said, including ambitious but vague 鈥渟hared moonshot missions across top technologies including quantum and AI, and a deeper partnership on space.鈥�
Britain has signaled it aims to eschew the European Union鈥檚 high-regulation approach to AI as it seeks to become a leader in the field.
The U.K. joined the U.S. in refusing to sign a joint declaration at an hosted by Macron in Paris this month in what was seen as an attempt to curry favor with Washington and seek investment from American tech firms. Starmer鈥檚 office said the prime minister 鈥渨ill make the case for further integration between the two countries鈥� tech sectors to make them the most efficient, ambitious technology sectors in the world.鈥�
Jill Lawless And Aamer Madhani, The Associated Press
