Keir Strander at Trump: With an invitation from the king and clear words

The British Prime Minister Keir Strandmer had prepared well when he arrived in Washington. Right at the beginning of his meeting with the American President, he made a show in which Donald Trump could like. Strander grabbed the inner pocket of his jack in the Oval Office and presented the president a letter that should open immediately.

It was an invitation from the British King Charles III. For a second state visit-a diplomatic and personal gesture for the confessing Great Britain lover Trump. In addition, Strander only spoke in superlatives: The second invitation to Windsor Castle is “unprecedented”, “really historical”, something “very special”.

However, the central question of the visit to American security guarantees for Ukraine should not clarify on Thursday. When the stricer and Trump came together in front of the press after a bilateral conversation and lunch, the American president let through that one did not always agree. Stronger is a “very hard” negotiator, he said and then joked: “I don't know if I like it, but okay.”

With regard to the security guarantees, Trump repeatedly retired in the presence of the European partner to negotiate peace at first. He does not like to talk about “phase two” when “phase one” has not yet been reached. When asked whether he could imagine a intelligence collaboration, Trump returned that one was “open to a lot”. But it would mean thinking that there is already peace. A agreement must be concluded “pretty soon”, otherwise it “does not” come about.

Strander spoke of a “very good and productive visit” and still emphasized politely and unmistakably, which Trump did not want to say. The American president had created the chance of a historical peace agreement. “But we have to do it right,” said the British Prime Minister. It shouldn't be peace that rewarded the aggressor. “The story must be on the side of the peace pent, not on that of the attacker.” Then he referred to the security guarantees: the agreement must ensure that Putin “no more” comes back. The British relationship with America is more important than ever before.

Unlike French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday, Strandmer was not able to act as the voice of the European Union, but it was a determined partner of Ukraine. He emphasized that it was ready to send British soldiers and fighter planes to Ukraine – “with our allies”. This is the only way to a continuing peace.

Asked whether British soldiers would get to help, if they were attacked in Ukraine, Trump had previously joked: “Could you record it alone with Russia?” The British Prime Minister laughed: “Well …”. He had just emphasized that Great Britain and the United States had “always supported each other if necessary”.

Trump left the comment that he didn't think the British “needed a lot of help”. You could take care of yourself well. Strand's short -term announcement before the trip to spend 2.5 percent of the economic output for military spending in the future was heard at Trump. That is a “great thing,” he said on Thursday. And in general, the “unique friendship” with the United Kingdom has only become stronger.

As for evidence, Trump in Washington promised a trade agreement with which Great Britain could avert the 25 percent tariffs announced by Trump to steel and aluminum imports. The chances are “very good,” said the American president, and then joked that Strandmer “worked very hard” at lunch together.

The British Prime Minister adhered to the tactics of Macron in dealing with Trump: laughing, mutual shoulder tapping and every now and then a careful reprimand. Just like the French President, after a false assertion, he made it clear to Trump that the Europeans did not get “all money back” from Ukraine – most of it were not loans. In contrast to Macron, the wrong number of $ 350 billion of American aid for Ukraine did not correctly corrected by Ukraine.

With the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj, such a ease should not be in conversation this Friday. Trump did not want to remember in the presence that he had called Selenskyj a “dictator” last week. “Did I say that? I can't believe that I said that, ”he said, and then called on the next journalist. He also passed the question of an apology to Selenskyj. He has a “very good relationship” with the Ukrainian president, as well as with Vladimir Putin.

The planned raw material agreement that Trump and Selenskyj wanted to sign in Washington on Friday could be the only “backstop” for which the United States are ready. In the future, a “more sustainable relationship” to Ukraine will ensure and “really bring us to this country,” said Trump on Thursday in the Oval Office. You will be “in place” and “dig, ditch, dig”. That alone is a security guarantee for Kyiv, Trump emphasized.

However, it was to the Europeans to secure peace. He supported Article five of NATO – the alliance case in an armed attack on a member state. But in his opinion it will not need it. He was confident “that the agreement holds when we close one”.