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DONALD TRUMP HAS suggested it will be up to Europe to ‘make sure nothing happens” in Ukraine when it comes to security, after he said that Vladimir Putin would be happy to see peacekeeping forces on the ground in the event of a deal being struck to end the war.
The US’s role in any future deal is likely to be among the topics up for discussion later this week when UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer heads to Washington for talks, after he reiterated his calls for a US “backstop” to any deal.
It will be Trump’s second meeting with a European leader in days, following the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday, which was the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion.
In an interview with Fox News’s Special Report following their meeting, Macron said it was “feasible” to talk about the start of negotiations for a sustainable peace within weeks.
He said: “We want peace. And I think the initiative of President Trump is a very positive one. But my message was to say be careful because we need something substantial for Ukraine.
“I think the arrival of President Trump is a game-changer. And I think he has the deterrence capacity of the US to reengage with Russia.”
The transatlantic alliance on the conflict has been shaken in recent weeks by the President’s comments on Ukraine and attempts to secure a deal with Russia over Ukraine’s head.
Speaking from the White House about security guarantees alongside Macron, the US President said: “Europe is going to make sure nothing happens.”
French President Emmanuel Macron discusses his meeting with President Trump and Russia-Ukraine peace talks in an interview with @BretBaier on @SpecialReport. pic.twitter.com/0mCr4abIXm
— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 25, 2025
Earlier on, Trump had said Putin “will accept” peacekeepers. Starmer has previously said he would be willing to put British troops on the ground as part of security guarantees that could end the war.
Addressing reporters alongside Macron, Trump said of the Russian president’s reaction to peacekeepers in Ukraine: “Yeah, he will accept it.
“I have asked him that question. Look, if we do this deal, he’s not looking for world war.”
Earlier this month, Sir Keir wrote in The Daily Telegraph that the UK was “ready to play a leading role” in Ukraine’s defence and security.
“It also means being ready and willing to contribute to security guarantees to Ukraine by putting our own troops on the ground if necessary,” he said.
“I do not say that lightly. I feel very deeply the responsibility that comes with potentially putting British servicemen and women in harm’s way”.
Russian officials have previously said that Moscow will not allow Nato or European troops to be deployed to Ukraine as peacekeepers.
Trump also expressed hope that Volodymyr Zelenskyy could come to the US to sign a deal to give the US access to Ukraine’s critical minerals in the coming weeks.
Want to know more about what’s happening in Ukraine and why? Check out our FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to finding good information online.
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