UK's Starmer says Trump 'has a point,' but 'I don't trust Putin'
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a new interview that President Trump “has a point” on the need for Europe to bear a greater defense burden.
He maintained, however, that he does not trust Russian President Vladimir Putin, as the U.S. seeks to move forward with brokering a ceasefire deal with Ukraine.
“Many people are urging us to choose between the U.S. and Europe,” Starmer told The New York Times, in an interview published Sunday. “Churchill didn’t do it. Attlee didn’t do it. It’d be a big mistake, in my view, to choose now.”
After pausing for a moment, he added, “I do think that President Trump has a point when he says there needs to be a greater burden borne by European countries for the collective self-defense of Europe.”
Starmer has sought to play a leading role on the international stage in recent weeks, amid uncertainty over the American relationship with Ukraine and Russia. Starmer convened meetings of what he has termed the “coalition of the willing,” as a means of helping Ukraine.
Even as Trump has signaled a softer approach to Putin, Starmer has remained firm against the Russian leader while maintaining his support for a strong alliance between the UK and U.S.
“I don’t trust Putin,” Starmer told the Times. “I’m sure Putin would try to insist that Ukraine should be defenseless after a deal because that gives him what he wants, which is the opportunity to go in again.”
Read more at The Hill
-
Starmer says Putin cannot be allowed to ‘play games’ over Ukraine ceasefire
UK PM to host virtual meeting of ‘coalition of the willing’ nations who have agreed to help enforce peace. Keir Starmer has warned that Vladimir Putin cannot be allowed to “play games” with the ...The Guardian - Mar. 14 -
Ukraine ceasefire plans moving to operational phase, Starmer says
UK prime minister accuses Putin of trying to delay peace and calls for ‘guns to fall silent’. Keir Starmer has called for the “guns to fall silent in Ukraine” and said military powers will meet ...The Guardian - Mar. 15 -
Starmer warns Putin of ‘severe consequences’ if he breaches peace deal
UK leader says Russia cannot veto how Ukraine defends itself as western military officials meet to draft security plans. Analysis: UK turns to the EU for defensive ties Vladimir Putin will ...The Guardian - 5d -
UK helped Ukraine and US reach ceasefire deal, government sources say
Sir Keir Starmer led European efforts to mend Trump-Zelensky relationship, UK government sources tell the BBC.BBC News - Mar. 12 -
The Papers: 'Starmer's shock NHS takeover' and Putin's ceasefire terms
Starmer to axe NHS England, while Putin says "there are nuances" in response to a proposed 30-day Ukraine ceasefire.BBC News - Mar. 14 -
Why the UK Has Not Retaliated Against Trump’s Tariffs
Prime Minister Keir Starmer wants to stay close to the United States, even as the uncertainty unleashed by President Trump offers a chance to build ties with the European Union.The New York Times - Mar. 12 -
Starmer says Putin must prove he is 'serious about peace' and sign up to Ukraine ceasefire
Starmer says Putin must prove he is 'serious about peace' and sign up to Ukraine ceasefireABC News - Mar. 15 -
Trump envoy dismisses Starmer plan for Ukraine
Steve Witkoff says the UK plans for an international force to support a ceasefire are a "posture".BBC News - 3d -
Keir Starmer’s poll ratings leap after Trump withdraws support for Ukraine
Around 30% of voters say they prefer Labour for dealing with ‘allies against threats to the UK’ in boost to party leader. Keir Starmer’s approval ratings have shot up since Donald Trump returned to ...The Guardian - Mar. 8 -
Starmer tells global leaders to 'keep the pressure' on Putin over ceasefire in Ukraine
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has told global leaders to “keep the pressure” on Russian President Vladimir Putin to back a ceasefire in UkraineABC News - Mar. 15 -
NHS England abolition shows ‘we have to take difficult decisions’, says Starmer – UK politics live
PM says he is ‘bringing management of the NHS back into democratic control by abolishing the arms length body NHS England’. Starmer is now talking about regulatation, and giving examples of where ...The Guardian - Mar. 13 -
Ed Davey calls on Keir Starmer to back Canada against Trump attacks
Lib Dem leader says PM should make public show of support for ally against ‘shocking attacks’ on its sovereignty. The leader of the UK’s Liberal Democrats has called on the prime minister to ...The Guardian - Mar. 14 -
Starmer tells global leaders to 'keep the pressure' on Putin over ceasefire in Ukraine
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has told allies to “keep the pressure” on Russian President Vladimir Putin to back a ceasefire in Ukraine, hailing Ukraine as the “party of peace.”NBC News - Mar. 15 -
Trump’s Putin gambit: How to hammer Moscow with sanctions that bite
President Trump has threatened to unleash "large-scale banking sanctions, sanctions, and tariffs on Russia" to force Putin to negotiate a ceasefire and final settlement agreement on peace, but his ...The Hill - Mar. 10 -
Trump says he’ll talk to Putin Tuesday amid push to end Ukraine war
President Trump said he will be speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday amid the push to end the war with Ukraine. “We’re doing pretty well, I think, with Russia,” he told ...The Hill - Mar. 17 -
Ukraine's reaction to Trump's upcoming call with Putin
President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will speak Tuesday about the war in Ukraine, but as CBS News senior foreign correspondent Holly Williams reports, Ukrainians don't have much ...CBS News - Mar. 17 -
Suozzi slams Trump over Ukraine, says Putin shouldn't be awarded for 'awful things' Ukrainians have faced
Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) slammed President Trump over the war in Ukraine on Sunday, also saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin shouldn’t be awarded “for all the awful things that have ...The Hill - Mar. 9 -
Putin questions Ukraine ceasefire plan and sets out string of conditions
Zelenskyy says Russia is ‘manipulative’ and seeking to extend the war while Trump says he is ‘ready to call’ Putin. Vladimir Putin has said he has many questions about the proposed US-brokered ...The Guardian - Mar. 13 -
Out of Putin’s war and Trump’s treachery, a new Europe is being born | Nathalie Tocci
The EU has its Trojan horses and Nato’s cornerstone has crumbled. But European allies, including the UK, are bound by an urgent shared purpose. Moscow’s immense military mobilisation is clearly not ...The Guardian - Mar. 12 -
Starmer is warned against ‘appeasing’ Trump with tax cut for US tech firms
Labour MP and Lib Dem leader express concern social media companies could be let off hook just as benefits are cut. Keir Starmer has been warned against “appeasing” Donald Trump as he considers ...The Guardian - 2d -
Starmer says 'all options on table' on US tariffs
Canada and the EU have announced retaliatory tariffs but UK will take a "pragmatic" approach, the prime minister said.BBC News - Mar. 12 -
Trump and Putin to hold call on ceasefire deal soon, US envoy says
Steve Witkoff, who recently met Putin, says he expects the presidents to have a positive discussion.BBC News - Mar. 16 -
“I 100% dont feel failure”: Jesse Lingard passionately shuts down criticism of his Man United career
Former Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard has fired back at critics suggesting he failed to deliver during his time at Old Trafford.Lingard left United in June 2022, following the expiry of ...Yahoo Sports - 3d -
UK watchdog to encourage more risk-taking by savers, says FCA chair
Financial regulator also aims to increase trust in markets by clamping down on fraudFinancial Times - 2d -
Trump’s gambit of using Putin against Iran will fail
President Trump thinks he has found an unlikely mediator to tame Iran’s nuclear ambitions: Vladimir Putin.The Hill - 1d -
Putin gifted a portrait of Trump to the U.S. president
The Kremlin has confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin gifted to Donald Trump a portrait he commissioned of the U.S. presidentABC News - 1d -
Brexit a key factor in worst UK medicine shortages in four years, report says
Nuffield Trust says supply chains have shifted, with drugs for epilepsy and cystic fibrosis among those now scarce. Drug shortages in the UK have risen to their worst level for four years, official ...The Guardian - 4d -
Why No One Should Trust This Trump-Putin Phone Call
There are too many unanswered questions that raise suspicions.The New York Times - Mar. 18 -
Russian captain held by UK police for longer over North Sea crash
Starmer says authorities must ‘get to the bottom’ of Monday’s shipping incidentFinancial Times - Mar. 13 -
Trump says he and Putin will discuss land and power plants in Ukraine ceasefire talks
Trump says negotiators have already discussed ‘dividing up certain assets’ and that he will talk to Putin on Tuesday. US politics live – latest updates Donald Trump is to speak to Vladimir ...The Guardian - Mar. 17 -
Inside Trump's call with Vladimir Putin
President Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin held a call Tuesday about the war in Ukraine amid continued fighting there. CBS News White House reporter Aaron Navarro has more on what we know ...CBS News - Mar. 18 -
'Ukrainians do not trust this process' as Trump says Zelenskyy agrees to a partial ceasefire
President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke by phone Wednesday morning, during which Trump says Zelenskyy agreed to a partial ceasefire. NBC News Chief Foreign ...NBC News - 6d -
I signed a prenup, but my husband refuses to make a will or set up a trust. If he dies, will I inherit his estate?
“He has one adult son from whom he is estranged. He is 71 and I am 69.”MarketWatch - Mar. 9 -
Putin says he agrees in principle to Ukraine ceasefire, points out issues pending
Russian President Vladimir Putin says he agrees in principle to the 30-day temporary ceasefire deal that the U.S. proposed after dialogue with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia. Putin added that ...CBS News - Mar. 13 -
UK must stand up to 'bully' Trump, says Ed Davey
Lib Dem leader says UK should "hit back with tariffs of our own" and co-ordinate a with the EU and Canada.BBC News - 2d -
Trump and Putin stress improving U.S.-Russia relations in phone call
Russian President Vladimir Putin told President Trump that halting foreign aid to Ukraine is key to ending the war, the Kremlin says.CBS News - Mar. 18 -
Zelensky says Ukraine civilian infrastructure hit after Trump-Putin call
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday evening that Ukrainian civilian infrastructure was struck following a call between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. ...The Hill - Mar. 19 -
Ukraine war live: Putin response to peace plan ‘not good enough’, says UK, as international militaries prepare to meet in London
Representatives from numerous international militaries will meet in London on Thursday, says UK prime minister. Few resonant phrases are repeated in politics without a deliberate reason, and Keir ...The Guardian - Mar. 15 -
Starmer says he is ‘disappointed’ by US tariffs on UK steel
PM vows to ‘keep all options on table’ after EU hits back against Washington with retaliatory measuresFinancial Times - Mar. 12
More from The Hill
-
Trump is a defining issue at home and abroad
President Trump's actions have united Canadians against him, leading to a significant shift in support for the Liberal Party over the Conservative Party in the polls.The Hill - 52m -
Trump orders declassification of FBI’s Russia investigation
President Trump on Tuesday signed a memorandum directing the declassification of FBI files related to the investigation into his 2016 campaign's potential ties to Russia. The memorandum calls for ...The Hill - 16h -
In Trump versus the Constitution, Congress is backing the wrong side
We urgently need our courts and our elected officials, Democrats and Republicans, to reaffirm the checks and balances designed to prevent abuses of power by any president.The Hill - 1d -
Carville on Schumer CR vote: ‘This might turn out to be a wiser decision than people think’
Democratic strategist James Carville weighed in on Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer’s (N.Y.) decision to vote in favor of the House GOP-led continuing resolution, saying it might turn out to ...The Hill - Mar. 18 -
Trump is reversing Nixon’s strategy to split China from Russia
The opening that Donald Trump sees is the one Richard Nixon saw half a century ago.The Hill - 1h
More in Politics
-
Trump pick to lead Social Security pressed on possible reforms
Frank Bisignano, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Social Security Administration, was pressed on Capitol Hill where he promised he would not push to privatize the system. The testimony ...NBC News - 46m -
JD Vance to join wife, Usha, on trip to Greenland this week
Vice President JD Vance is set to join his wife, Usha, on her trip to Greenland this week. While it was billed as a cultural and learning visit, it now has a sharper national security focus. NBC’s ...NBC News - 56m -
Capitol agenda: One major agreement on Trump’s agenda
Politico - 1h -
Capitol agenda: One major agreement on Trump’s agenda
Politico - 1h -
Mike Waltz takes 'full responsibility' for military plans text group
President Trump's National Security adviser Mike Waltz said in an interview that he takes "full responsibility" for a group text that included a journalist while discussing military plans.NBC News - 9h