United States President, Donald Trump, expressed sharp disappointment in Russian President Vladimir Putin during his final day in the United Kingdom, saying the Russian leader had “really let me down.”
The comments came as Trump met Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Chequers for discussions on major global conflicts, including Ukraine and Gaza.
Following a day of royal pageantry at Windsor Castle hosted by King Charles III, Trump traveled to the Prime Minister’s country residence for talks aimed at deepening cooperation between Washington and London.
Starmer has positioned himself as a key interlocutor between Trump and Europe, pushing for stronger support for Kyiv.
Trump, speaking at a post-meeting press conference, acknowledged his hopes that the Ukraine war would be “the easiest” to resolve due to his rapport with Putin. “But he’s let me down. He’s really let me down,” Trump said, urging European countries to reduce Russian oil imports. “If the price of oil comes down, Putin’s going to drop out of that war.”
While Trump and Starmer shared warm relations, they differed on the UK’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state.
The US president also highlighted migration issues, claiming he would intervene militarily if necessary to stop illegal crossings into the UK.
– Strengthening Ties –
The two leaders reinforced the “unbreakable bond” between the US and the UK with the signing of a major tech partnership, covering artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and nuclear energy. The agreement coincided with announcements of £150 billion ($205 billion) in investments from American tech giants including Microsoft, Google, and Blackstone.
At the signing ceremony, Starmer noted the mutual respect between him and the 79-year-old Republican, calling them “leaders who genuinely like each other.”
Trump also praised King Charles as a “great gentleman and a great king” when departing Windsor Castle.
To appeal to Trump’s admiration for historical leaders, Starmer guided him through a tour of Winston Churchill artifacts at Chequers, reinforcing the shared history and values between the two nations.
– Royal Reception and Domestic Context
Trump’s visit marked the second time he received the full ceremonial honors from the British monarchy, following his first state visit in 2019.
During the state banquet, he called the experience “truly one of the highest honours of my life.” King Charles commended Trump for his support of Ukraine and peace efforts while emphasizing the importance of environmental stewardship for future generations.
Meanwhile, First Lady Melania Trump remained at Windsor, meeting scouts with Princess Catherine and visiting Queen Mary’s Doll’s House with Queen Camilla.
The US president largely avoided public scrutiny, despite protests in London, before preparing to return to Washington later on Thursday.
