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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer insists on maintaining transatlantic ties amid US President Donald Trump’s lukewarm attitude toward Europe.
He stated this in an interview with The New York Times.
“Many people urge us to choose between the US and Europe. Churchill did not do that. Attlee did not do that. In my view, it would be a huge mistake to make that choice now,” Starmer said.
After a pause, he added: “I think President Trump is right when he says that European countries should bear a greater burden for Europe’s collective self-defense.”
The pressing issue is whether Britain and Europe will play a significant role in Trump’s negotiations with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. To ensure this, Starmer is working to assemble a multinational military force, which he calls the “coalition of the willing.” According to him, the goal is to protect Ukraine’s skies, ports, and borders after any peace settlement.
“I do not trust Putin. I am sure that Putin will insist on leaving Ukraine defenseless after an agreement is reached because that would give him what he wants—an opportunity to invade Ukraine again,” the British Prime Minister stated.
Britain faces obstacles on all fronts: Russia has rejected the idea of NATO peacekeeping forces. Trump has not yet provided security guarantees, which Starmer says are crucial for countries to commit troops.
However, despite political and diplomatic uncertainty, Starmer said he has no choice but to take the lead.
“If we move at the pace of the most cautious,” he said, “then we will move very slowly and will not be in the position we need to be in.”
The so-called “coalition of the willing,” which is laying the groundwork for securing a future post-war settlement, met in London in early March.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously stated that he would be in Paris next week for meetings.
Additionally, senior military officers from the “coalition of the willing” met on Thursday, March 15, at the British military headquarters on the outskirts of London to discuss plans for deploying international forces to Ukraine.
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