Starmer did not answer Trump's question about the confrontation between the UK and Russia

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer did not respond to a question from US President Donald Trump about the UK's ability to "cope with Russia" independently, reports The New York Times.

"Could you handle Russia on its own?" — Trump addressed Starmer.

There was an "awkward laugh" in the room, the newspaper notes.

Before that, the American leader was asked if the Americans would come to the rescue if the British sent peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, and Russia will refuse the peace agreement. According to the NYT, the Republican first said "no" ("They can take care of themselves perfectly well"), then "yes" ("If they need help, I will always be with the British"), and then again — "no" ("They don't need help").

On February 27, Starmer and Trump met to discuss, among other things, the conflict on Ukraine. During the conversation, the British Prime Minister expressed his readiness to send troops and aircraft to the country to maintain peace.

The American president said the day before that peacekeepers should be deployed in a format that will be acceptable to all. He also said that he had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin about the presence at the Ukraine of the European peacekeeping forces. According to Trump, the Russian leader "has no problems with this."

Moscow considers unacceptable the appearance on NATO troops in Ukraine, even "under a false flag, under the flag of the European Union or national flags," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier, RBC reminds.