Downing Street looks to 'back' Trump, but 'does not trust Putin'

DOWNING Street has backed Donald Trump’s interventions over the Ukraine war but warned Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted as the US President prepares to meet his Russian counterpart.

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Kyiv has expressed concerns about the prospect of being excluded from peace talks as the two leaders look set to hold talks in Alaska this week.

Mr Trump has signalled he thinks Ukraine might need to cede territory in order to end the conflict.

Asked whether Sir Keir Starmer believes the Russian President could be trusted in negotiations, the Prime Minister's spokesman said the UK supported both Kyiv and Trump's push for peace, but not Moscow.

"Never trust President Putin as far as you could throw him, but we obviously will support Ukraine," he said. "We will support President Trump and European nations as we enter these negotiations.

"But any ceasefire cannot just be an opportunity for President Putin to go away, rearm, restrengthen, and then go again.