U.S. President Trump says minerals agreement with Ukraine to ensure safety in Ukraine

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was at the White House Thursday afternoon for talks with his American counterpart Donald Trump who shared optimism about prospects of a peace plan for Ukraine against Russian aggression.

Choi Soo-hyung has the latest.

U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer have met to discuss issues including the negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

On Thursday local time, during a summit at the White House, Trump claimed that the minerals agreement with Ukraine, could help guarantee Ukraine's security.

He also expressed confidence that if a ceasefire deal is made, Russian President Vladimir Putin will keep his promises.

"I've known him for a long time now, and I think he will, I don't believe he's going to violate his word. I don't think he'll be back. When we make a deal, I think the deal is going to hold."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to visit the U.S. on Friday local time to sign the natural resources agreement following Trump's demand for repayment from Ukraine.

During the summit, Trump walked back his statement from about eight days earlier, saying that he couldn't believe that he had called Zelenskyy a "dictator."

But, Trump opposed Ukraine's NATO membership, stating a peace deal must come first before deploying European peacekeepers to ensure Kyiv's safety.

Prime Minister Starmer positively evaluated Trump's leadership in the Ukraine peace negotiations but stated that history should be on the side of the peacemaker.

"We're focused now on bringing an enduring end to the barbaric war in Ukraine. And that's what we must do now, because it can't be peace that rewards the aggressor. We agree history must be on the side of the peacemaker, not the invader."

During the meeting, President Trump read aloud King Charles III's state visit invitation letter on the spot, calling it wonderful and praising Charles as a great and admirable gentleman.

Prime Minister Starmer said that this second state visit symbolized the special and strong relationship between the two countries.

During his first term, in June 2019, Trump made a state visit to the UK at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth II.

Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.