Trump, Starmer press Putin as UK state visit tightens Western pressure on Moscow

LONDON — Donald Trump used a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during his state visit to the United Kingdom to publicly criticize Vladimir Putin, saying the Russian leader has 'really let me down' in his attempt to resolve the war in Ukraine. The remarks came as Western capitals step up pressure on Moscow after reported violations of NATO airspace over Poland and a spike in fighting in the region.

Trump said at Chequers that he has been 'working very hard' to end the conflict and that the Ukraine war would be the 'easiest' to resolve, but Putin's actions have undermined those efforts. 'He’s really let me down,' Trump said, detailing how the Russian president’s conduct has complicated any peace process. He argued that, had he been in office, the war might have been avoided, asserting that Putin did not respect U.S. leadership. Trump also noted that the war has produced substantial casualties on both sides and emphasized his obligation to see a settlement reached.

Separately, British and allied defense officials disclosed that Typhoon jets from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire will join NATO's 'Eastern Sentry' mission, flying over Poland alongside aircraft from Denmark, France and Germany. They will be supported by a Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, part of an ongoing effort to reinforce deterrence on the alliance’s eastern flank amid the Ukraine war.

Sir Keir Starmer, appearing alongside Trump, said the leaders were coordinating steps to end the killing in Ukraine and to increase pressure on Moscow to secure a durable peace. 'Putin has shown his true face' with the latest strike that breached NATO airspace, Starmer said, underscoring the need to bolster defenses and press for a peace deal that can endure.

Trump argued that Putin began the war because he did not respect United States leadership, saying that if he had been president, the invasion would not have happened. He described millions of lives lost in the conflict and insisted that the United States bears a responsibility to press for a settlement.

The remarks come as Western capitals weigh further deterrence measures and a stronger united front with Kyiv, while the conflict continues to unfold across Ukraine and the surrounding region. While there is no indication of an imminent peace agreement, leaders signaled continued coordination and a shared interest in stabilizing the broader security environment in Europe.