While all the body language and warm words from Donald Trump on his state visit and Chagos deal will have caused a wave of relief in Keir Starmer’s entourage, there remains a key unanswered question over the status of an international peacekeeping force in Ukraine.
It was hugely significant that a US president, sitting in the Oval Office, described the UK as America’s “number one ally”.
Yet will he offer US military support to that number one ally if British peacekeeping troops in Ukraine come under fire from Russia?
From Trump’s comments ahead of his talks with Starmer, it is not clear.
The Prime Minister has previously said the UK stands “ready and willing” to put “boots on the ground” in Ukraine to ensure a peace deal between Moscow and Kyiv holds fast.
But he has also said that the UK – and other European allies offering personnel to a peacekeeping force – would need a “backstop” from the US as a security guarantee.
Whitehall and military insiders have suggested this could include the US providing air cover, logistics and other back-up support even if it did not mean American troops on the ground.
Yet in their Oval Office appearance before reporters on Thursday, Trump suggested that the US security “backstop” could come in the form of US workers stationed in Ukraine as part of the minerals deal between Washington and Kyiv.
Referring to the deal he is poised to sign with Zelensky on Friday, the US president said: “It’s a backstop, you could say, I don’t think anybody’s going to play around if we’re there with a lot of workers and having to do with rare earths and other things which we need for our country.”
While this would be seen by the UK as a good start for a security guarantee, it will surely not be enough.
The idea that US civilian workers – including experts in geology and mining – would be suddenly ready, let alone trained, to take up arms to protect UK and other international troops is fanciful.
Trump might argue that Putin would not want to harm US civilian workers, as it would trigger a response from the US military.
It is possible that Trump will offer more details of US military cover – but he insisted that he would not do this until a peace deal had been agreed.
And 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 suggested they could look after themselves.
He 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.”
And when Trump asked Starmer: “Could you take on Russia by yourselves?” the Prime Minister could only offer a nervous smile and reply: “Well…”
Despite the cosiness of their meeting, it is clear the issue of peacekeepers remains a crucial sticking point between the two allies.
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