Ukraine must be given guarantees on its territorial integrity in any deal'

SIR Keir Starmer told Donald Trump that Ukraine must not be forced to hand territory to Russia - as the American president prepared for his much-anticipated meeting with Vladimir Putin.

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The PM spoke out yesterday after the US leader recently suggested peace in Ukraine might require some “land swapping”.

But Mr Trump, due to meet the Russian tyrant in Alaska tomorrow, revealed he hopes to pressure Putin to hold talks with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky so the two presidents can thrash out a peace agreement between themselves.

The US leader played down expectations for his session with Putin, describing it simply as a chance to “find out where we are and what we're doing”.

He added: “There is a very good chance that we're going to have a second meeting...I would like to do it almost immediately.

"If the first one goes OK...we'll have a quick second meeting between President Putin and President Zelensky and myself, if they'd like to have me there.”

But Mr Trump also warned Russia would face “severe consequences” if Putin refuses to stop targeting Ukraine civilians.

He was talking after an online summit with Sir Keir, President Zelensky and other European leaders.

The PM has tried to avoid any suggestion of a break with Washington, while at the same time making clear his support for Mr Zelensky.

Serious

He praised MrTrump at the summit saying, thanks to the president, there is now a “viable” chance of ending the conflict.