President Trump is more transformative to Russian President Vladimir Putin (V.) than British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Now, Mr. Starmer is in the moment of fate of the Transatlantic Alliance and finds himself moving on the world stage. During his busy weeks, he led the European response to peace talks with French President Emmanuel Macron. He mediated between Mr. Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine. He is lobbying Mr. Trump not to leave Europe at the mercy of aggressive Russia.
These are four of the gains from a series of recent conversations Starmer has held with the New York Times.
Europe must help ensure any peaceful settlement between Ukraine and Russia.
The Prime Minister welcomed Mr. Trump’s efforts to end the war and last week’s call between Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin “slightly understates.” But without strong security arrangements, any peace agreement would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future invasions.
“I don't trust Putin, so I have to act with caution,” Mr Starmer said. “We know what will happen if there is no security arrangement, that is, he will properly violate the transaction in his own time.”
He said Europe must play a leading role in providing that security. Mr Starmer has pieced together a lot of his energy in recent weeks, putting together willing alliances that will act as a deterrent to Russia in order to maintain the peace agreement.
However, so far, both Britain and France have committed troops, and no other European countries have done so. Mr. Stamer downplayed the lack of announcements, saying it was still early in the process, with uncertainty in peace negotiations and deterrent military missions.
“How do we incorporate this concept into the plan?” Mr Starmer said. “If an agreement is reached, how can we make sure we can make a plan? All we can't do is wait for a deal and say 'right,' and scratch our heads.”
Maintaining a “special relationship” with the United States is crucial.
When it comes to the connection between the UK and the US, Mr. Starmer insists on a simple policy: no sunlight.
“We are different from some of the other allies,” he said. “We are intertwined in the intertwined way of the other two countries on the basis of defense, security and intelligence. It is in our interest to continue to do so.”
Mr. Starmer strives to build a relationship with Mr. Trump, and so far this has paid off.
“I've seen him many times,” he said. “I've talked to him in many cases on the phone. I think we have a good relationship. I do believe he absolutely wants peace in Ukraine. That's what he's driving. I do believe he's committed to NATO.”
Starmer acknowledges the renewed importance of the royal family in British diplomacy.
Mr. Starmer during this difficult period: the royal family. He was obviously happy to send a letter from King Charles III to Mr. Trump last month, inviting him to make a state visit to Britain.
“President Trump talked to me about his feelings for the royal family and what it means to meet with the late queen,” Mr Steamer recalled. “It's important because it's something I think other countries are looking for.”
After Charles clashed with Trump, he received a crowded diplomatic dance card in recent weeks to meet with Mr. Zelensky. He hosted the host with two consecutive Canadian Prime Ministers Justin Trudeau and Mark Carney as both competed with Mr. Trump’s tariffs on Canada and refuted his appeal to become the 51st U.S. nation.
“I'm not speaking for the royal family,” Mr. Steamer kept saying. But he pointed out that “the Prime Minister of Canada is his Prime Minister”, which means that the king is also the head of state of Canada.
In a more turbulent world, Britain needs to strengthen its defense and security.
“I still remember how I felt when the Berlin Wall fell,” Stamer said. “This is the beginning of a new era, and values of democracy and freedom will prevail. I don't think I'll see Russia's occupation of the country again in my life.”
“Because the peace dividend lasted for a long time,” he said, paying for defense is important after other priorities.
Now, Europe needs to do more, he said. “For years, European countries have been saying that we need to strengthen national defense and security, but we haven’t done that yet,” Stamer said. “I’m very strongly, the moment of speaking is over, and now the moment of action.”
