US President Donald Trump said that he supports the 5th article of the NATO Treaty, but expressed confidence that it would not be needed with him. He said this at a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, his words are quoted by The Guardian.
Trump was asked if he supports the principle of collective defense enshrined in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. It says that an attack on one of the NATO members will be considered as an attack on all.
"I support that. I don't think we'll have any reason for that. I think we will have a very successful world," he said.
According to him, the UK has "incredible military" who "don't really need help" and who can "take care of themselves." However, if the British peacekeeping forces are attacked, "if they need help, I will always be with the British," the American leader assured. At a meeting with Trump, Starmer expressed readiness to send troops and aircraft to maintain peace on Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called unacceptable the appearance of NATO troops there, even "under a foreign flag, under the flag of the European Union or national flags."
Ukraine's accession to NATO "will not happen," Trump is sure. Speaking about the prospects for a peaceful settlement, he stressed that peace will come "either pretty soon or not at all." Russia is ready to return to the negotiating table, said Russian President Vladimir Putin.