Friday Briefing: Trump Met With Britain’s Leader

Trump said he trusted Putin to keep a Ukraine peace deal

President Trump met with Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain in Washington yesterday. While sitting beside the British leader in the Oval Office, Trump said repeatedly that he believed that Vladimir Putin, Russia’s leader, would not violate the terms of whatever peace deal might be reached to end the war in Ukraine. Here’s the latest.

“I think he’ll keep his word,” Trump said. “I’ve known him for a long time now.”

His attitude toward Moscow could hardly be more different than Starmer’s, who had come to the White House to pledge troops to a postwar peacekeeping effort, and to urge Trump not to abandon Ukraine to Putin’s demands.

Trump was asked if the U.S. would aid Britain should they send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, only for Russia to renege on a peace deal. The president waffled. In the span of one minute, Trump seemed to say no, then yes, before landing back on no.

“They don’t need help,” he said.

Tariffs: Trump said that Canada and Mexico tariffs would go into effect on March 4, claiming that the countries had still not done enough to stop the flow of drugs into the U.S. He said on social media that China would face an additional 10 percent tariff next week.

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• Elon Musk said efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in Uganda were only “very briefly” canceled by accident. But at least four of the five contracts for Ebola-related work there were terminated, aid officials said.

• Debate is building over the true extent of Trump’s antagonism toward Europe, but most in the E.U. agree that America is no longer the ally it once was.

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• Track Trump’s actions since he took office.

Trump said he trusted Putin to keep a Ukraine peace deal

President Trump met with Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain in Washington yesterday. While sitting beside the British leader in the Oval Office, Trump said repeatedly that he believed that Vladimir Putin, Russia’s leader, would not violate the terms of whatever peace deal might be reached to end the war in Ukraine. Here’s the latest.

“I think he’ll keep his word,” Trump said. “I’ve known him for a long time now.”

His attitude toward Moscow could hardly be more different than Starmer’s, who had come to the White House to pledge troops to a postwar peacekeeping effort, and to urge Trump not to abandon Ukraine to Putin’s demands.

Trump was asked if the U.S. would aid Britain should they send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, only for Russia to renege on a peace deal. The president waffled. In the span of one minute, Trump seemed to say no, then yes, before landing back on no.

“They don’t need help,” he said.

Tariffs: Trump said that Canada and Mexico tariffs would go into effect on March 4, claiming that the countries had still not done enough to stop the flow of drugs into the U.S. He said on social media that China would face an additional 10 percent tariff next week.

More on Trump

• The Times has identified 45 people within the so-called Department of Government Efficiency. This is who they are.

• Elon Musk said efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in Uganda were only “very briefly” canceled by accident. But at least four of the five contracts for Ebola-related work there were terminated, aid officials said.

• Debate is building over the true extent of Trump’s antagonism toward Europe, but most in the E.U. agree that America is no longer the ally it once was.

• Trump officials are debating whether to use military strikes against Mexican drug cartels or collaborate with Mexican authorities to dismantle criminal organizations.

• Track Trump’s actions since he took office.