US President Donald Trump has said he would "help" British soldiers if they are attacked during their peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, but has repeatedly rejected the idea that the US could offer its troops as peacekeepers there.
Asked by The Daily Telegraph in the Oval Office whether the US would come to Britain's aid if they were attacked by Russia while maintaining peace in Ukraine, the US President ultimately indicated that he would.
"I've always looked out for the British. They don't need a lot of help... They can take care of themselves... it sounds like it's evasive, but it's not evasive. You know the British have incredible soldiers, incredible armies, and they can take care of themselves. But if they need help, I'll always be with the British, okay? ... but they don't need help," Trump said.
When Trump was asked earlier whether US forces could be deployed as a stopgap in Ukraine, a key request from the UK, he dismissed the likelihood that it would be necessary.
"Well, there is a 'backstop'. First you have the European countries, because they are right there, we are very far away, we have an ocean between us. But we want to make sure it works.
"We're a 'backstop' because we're going to be there, we're going to be working in the country. That's a good thing economically for them because... we're going to have a lot of people there... so I just don't think you're going to have any problems," Trump said.