Egypt Daily News – Days after the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, U.S. President Donald Trump hosted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House on Thursday for talks regarding the Ukrainian issue.
Ceasefire Agreement First
During the meeting, Trump expressed confidence that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, would respect any peace agreement with Ukraine, three years after the start of Russia’s military operation in the country.
Trump stated that Putin “will keep his promise,” announcing that Russia and Ukraine would agree to end the war. He also emphasized the need to reach a ceasefire agreement before deciding on the deployment of international peacekeeping forces, stressing that Ukraine would not join NATO.
He added that finalizing the agreement should be a priority, a stance that contrasts with European capitals, which want security guarantees for Ukraine to be part of the negotiations to reach a settlement to the war.
He also confirmed that he would sign an agreement with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on Friday regarding the exploitation of mineral resources in Ukraine, saying, “We will sign the agreement together.”
Additionally, the White House leader downplayed the significance of his description of his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, as a “dictator” a few days ago.
When journalists asked the U.S. president about the description he used for his counterpart in a post on his social media platform, he replied, “Did I really say that? I can’t believe I said that.” However, he simultaneously acknowledged that relations with Zelensky had become somewhat strained, as he put it.
On the other hand, Starmer emphasized that any agreement regarding Ukraine must be permanent and not subject to violation. He also announced that he would discuss with Trump how to ensure Russia’s commitment to a potential peace agreement.
The British prime minister thanked the U.S. president for reviving the possibility of achieving peace in Ukraine and conveyed a message from King Charles inviting him to visit Britain.
Three Years of War
It is worth noting that the Russian-Ukrainian war has entered its third year amid U.S.-led efforts to resolve the crisis.
On February 24, 2022, the world woke up to an event that marked a pivotal moment in the 21st century, when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the entry of his forces into Ukraine. This war has also severely impacted Russia’s trade relations with the West due to sanctions, as American and European companies withdrew from the Russian market.
Last Monday, the United Nations Security Council approved a resolution prepared by the United States, which included a softening of the international organization’s longstanding stance on the war.
The Council adopted a U.S.-drafted resolution, supported by Russia, calling for the establishment of peace in Ukraine as soon as possible. However, it did not include any reference to the territorial integrity of the country, despite reservations from Kyiv’s European allies.
This resolution also coincided with the third anniversary of the Russian war in Ukraine.
