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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will pitch Trump today on a European peacekeeping proposal that involves using the US as a “backstop” to secure Ukraine post-war.
“We get it, that this needs to be a European endeavor,” a British official said, “but we know that European defense and defense of Ukraine will depend in some part on the United States.”
Starmer is the second of three European leaders to visit the White House this week, and his meeting comes on the heels of a new UK pledge to cut foreign aid in order to significantly boost defense spending.
The UK Prime Minister also hopes to nurture his country’s “special relationship” with the US by increasing defense and economic ties; including proposing a new partnership on advanced technology, the British official said. Starmer may have better luck courting Trump than other European leaders, after Trump decried the EU as “formed to screw the United States.”
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The visit comes a day before Ukraine’s leader is due to sign a minerals deal with the US — though Trump has said he will not offer Kyiv protection “beyond very much” — and as US and Russian officials are reportedly resuming talks in Istanbul focused on reestablishing full diplomatic ties.
Talks with Russia and harsh rhetoric against Europe have Trump’s critics fearful he is making excessive concessions to Moscow. “If America must be ruthless, at least let it be brilliant,” The Economist wrote. “That is the prayer that [Trump’s] defenders… must murmur.”