Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has issued a stark warning to US President Donald Trump ahead of his planned meeting with Vladimir Putin, saying the Russian leader can not be trusted and reaffirming the UK’s commitment to Ukraine.
The meeting between Trump and Putin is scheduled to take place in Alaska on Friday, as the White House pushes for a ceasefire more than three years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In a pointed message aimed at the upcoming talks, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister said: “Never trust President Putin as far as you could throw him. But we will support Ukraine, President Trump, and our European allies as we enter these negotiations.”
The UK, alongside other Western nations, remains adamant that any resolution to the war must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Meanwhile, Downing Street made clear that the UK is not relying on goodwill or verbal assurances from the Kremlin, stressing that any ceasefire deal must not give Russia the opportunity to regroup and resume hostilities.
“We’re not going to leave it to trust, we’re going to ensure that we’re prepared so that we achieve a meaningful and lasting ceasefire , not one that simply allows President Putin to re-arm and re-launch his aggression.”
Putin-Trump talk, first since January 2025
The talks between Trump and Putin will be the first in-person meeting between the two leaders since the US president’s return to power in January. Trump had campaigned on a promise to end the war in Ukraine on day one, but has since struggled to make diplomatic headway.
Among the most contentious issues in the run-up to Friday’s meeting is the question of whether Ukraine should cede any of its territory currently under its control as part of a ceasefire agreement. Reports, including one from The Wall Street Journal, suggest Russia may be seeking control over additional parts of Donetsk in exchange for halting its military campaign a proposal flatly rejected by Ukraine and its allies.
Another unresolved question is whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will participate in the Alaska talks. Trump has said he is open to Zelensky joining the negotiations, but no firm plans have been confirmed.
When asked, Downing Street declined to say whether Zelensky should be involved but stressed that “the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine.”
Reiterating the UK’s position, the Prime Minister’s spokesman stated: “There can be no compromise to Ukraine’s sovereignty. Any peace must be built with Ukraine deciding its own future. We will stand by Ukraine and we will support Ukraine.”
The UK has led efforts to build a coalition of the willing to support Kyiv militarily and diplomatically, and remains sceptical of Russia’s intentions in any proposed peace settlement.
Trump’s relationship with Russia has long been a point of tension. While in office previously, he faced criticism from senior Republicans for what was seen as a lenient stance toward Moscow. Since returning to the presidency, Trump has issued sharp rebukes of both Putin and Zelensky at different times, while maintaining that he still aims to broker peace.
In an interview with the BBC in July whether he trusted Putin, Trump replied, “I trust almost nobody.”
As the world watches the upcoming talks closely, Western governments remain cautious about any proposal that might undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty or reward Russian aggression.
