From Windsor pageantry to Chequers politics: Trump’s UK visit saw him slam Putin, warm up to Starmer, and sign billion-pound tech deals.
US President Donald Trump, has accused Russian leader Vladimir Putin of betraying his trust over the Ukraine war, in one of his strongest rebukes of Moscow since returning to office.
Speaking at a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday, Trump admitted he had once believed ending the Ukraine conflict would be “the easiest” of global challenges, citing his long relationship with Putin.
“He’s really let me down,” Trump said. “If the price of oil comes down, Putin’s going to drop out of that war.”
The remarks capped a historic UK state visit, where Trump mixed royal pageantry with tough geopolitical talks and major economic announcements.
Environmental protection
The comments came just a day after Trump was feted at Windsor Castle, with King Charles III calling him a “great gentleman and a great king” while stressing the importance of environmental protection.
On Thursday, Trump switched settings to Chequers, Starmer’s country residence, for talks on Ukraine, Gaza, trade, and illegal migration.
Starmer as Diplomatic Bridge
Starmer has sought to position himself as a key bridge between Trump and European allies, especially on Ukraine. His repeated calls for “more international pressure on Putin” appear to be nudging Trump toward tougher rhetoric on Russia.
The two leaders also diverged on the Middle East, with Trump acknowledging a “rare disagreement” over Britain’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state.
Technology Agreement,
The visit was not just about geopolitics. Trump and Starmer signed a landmark AI and technology agreement, hailed as the “first and best” US-UK trade deal by the British prime minister.
The pact included pledges of £150 billion ($205 billion) in investment from US tech giants including Microsoft, Google, and Blackstone, bolstering cooperation in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and nuclear energy.
Starmer described the deal as proof that he and Trump were “leaders who genuinely like each other.” Trump in turn eased his tariff stance on UK exports.
Illegal migration
In a striking aside, Trump said he told Starmer he would “stop illegal migration” in Britain—even if it meant calling in the military.
Meanwhile, Trump’s wife, First Lady Melania Trump, remained at Windsor Thursday morning, meeting scouts alongside Princess Catherine and touring Queen Mary’s Doll’s House with Queen Camilla.
Protests and Departure
While Trump enjoyed royal hospitality, not everyone was pleased. Up to 5,000 protesters marched through central London Wednesday, voicing opposition to his visit.
The president was expected to return to Washington Thursday night after what both sides hailed as a “historic and productive” state visit.
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