DONALD Trump has said British troops "can take care of themselves" when asked if the US would come to the UK’s aid amid any potential Russian attacks while keeping the peace in Ukraine.
The US president made the comments as he and Keir Starmer met for crunch talks on Ukraine, trade and technology, with the Prime Minister set to push his US counterpart on the idea of a US “backstop” for any peace deal with Kyiv.
Trump said he thinks Vladimir Putin will keep his word while Starmer stressed the importance of making sure the Russian leader does not violate a potential peace deal.
Trump said of Putin: “I’ve known him for a long time now and … I don’t believe he’s going to violate his word. I… when we make a deal, I think the deal is going to hold now.”
Starmer said: “I don’t think it would have happened if the space hadn’t been created by yourself.
“But if there’s a deal in, we’ve got to make sure it’s a deal that lasts, that is not temporary, that lasts, and that’s why we need to make sure that it’s secure.
“And we’ve leant in and said we’ll play our part, and we’ve talked and we will talk about how we work with yourself, Mr President, to ensure that this deal is something which is not violated because it’s very important, if there is a deal, we keep it.”
Asked if the US would come to the UK’s aid if British troops were attacked by Russia while keeping the peace in Ukraine, Trump said: “You know, I’ve always found about the British – they don’t need much help.
“They can take care of themselves very well.
“It sounds like it’s evasive but it’s not evasive. You know, the British have been incredible soldiers, incredible military, and they can take care of themselves.
“But if they need help, I’ll always be with the British, OK? I’ll always be with them – but they don’t need help.”
Turning to the Prime Minster, Trump said: “You have done very well over the years, haven’t you?”
Starmer replied: “We have, I’m very proud of our country – but we’ve also always been there backing each other up.
“That is why this is the greatest alliance for prosperity and security, I think, the world has ever seen.
“Whenever necessary, we’ve absolutely backed each other up.”
Trump then asked: “Could you take on Russia by yourselves?”
Starmer smiled and said: “Well…”
Later Trump claimed he did not remember branding Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy a dictator.
Asked about the remark he made in a post on his social media site Truth Social, Trump said: “Did I say that? I can’t believe I said that. Next question, please go ahead.”
The US president said he was able to “get along with both” Zelenskyy and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
He added: “I have a very good relationship with President Putin. I think I have a very good relationship with President Zelenskyy.”
