US President Donald Trump wrapped up his historic second UK state visit on Thursday with blunt words for Russian leader Vladimir Putin, saying he had “really let me down” over the war in Ukraine.
Speaking alongside Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Chequers, Trump revealed he had expected the Ukraine conflict to be the “easiest” to resolve because of his personal ties with Putin.
“He’s really let me down,” Trump said. “If the price of oil comes down, Putin’s going to drop out of that war. Europe must stop buying Russian oil.”
The two leaders discussed a range of issues, including Ukraine, Gaza, trade, migration, and technology.
‘Unbreakable bond’ and tech deal
Earlier in the day, Trump hailed America’s “unbreakable bond” with Britain as both countries signed a landmark tech deal spanning artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and nuclear energy.
The deal includes pledges of £150 billion ($205 billion) in investment from US giants such as Microsoft, Google, and Blackstone.
Starmer described Trump as a leader he “genuinely likes,” while Trump praised their cooperation despite “one of our few disagreements” over the UK’s plan to recognise a Palestinian state.
Royal treatment and protests
On Wednesday, Trump was feted at Windsor Castle, where King Charles III hosted a carriage procession, gun salutes, and a white-tie state banquet — making Trump the first US president to receive two UK state visits.
The king praised Trump’s support for Ukraine while stressing the need to protect the environment for future generations.
First Lady Melania Trump stayed in Windsor on Thursday, joining Queen Camilla and Princess Catherine for engagements, while Trump headed to Chequers.
Despite the pageantry, an estimated 5,000 protesters marched in London to oppose the visit.
Domestic shadows
Both Trump and Starmer faced political distractions linked to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, whose resurfacing ties have caused renewed controversy.
Still, Starmer emerged with trade and investment wins, while Trump left with stronger alignment with the UK on Ukraine — a key goal of the trip.
Trump was scheduled to return to Washington later Thursday.
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