Trump dashes hopes of US backstop for UK and European peacekeepers in Ukraine
As military commanders in London, Paris and elsewhere ponder what sort of stabilisation force they might need to send to Ukraine, there's one huge factor that remains uncertain.
If European troops are attacked by Russia along any sort of demilitarised zone in Ukraine - has the US got their back?
The issue of the so-called US backstop is key to any peace deal between Ukraine and Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says without the threat of a US military response any agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin will quickly fall apart.
Kyiv would like to see European forces act as a so-called tripwire - there as a first line of defence, but with US air power and land forces there to back them up.
But yesterday during his meeting with Prime Minister Kier Starmer in Washington, US President Donald Trump seemed to quash any hopes that might happen.
"Well, there is a backstop," he told reporters. "First, you have European countries, because they're right there, we're very far away, we have an ocean between us.
"But we want to make sure it works. So, I don't know when you say 'backstop' you mean a backstop psychologically, militarily or what?"
President Trump was asked if US forces would go to the aid of British peacekeepers if they were attacked by Russia.
"I’ve always found about the British they don’t need much help. They can take care of themselves. It sounds like it's evasive, but it's not evasive," he replied.
"You know, the British have incredible soldiers, incredible military and they can take care of themselves.
"But if they need help, I’ll always be with the British, OK? But they don't need help."
In the coming days Ukraine is expected to sign a US-proposed deal for the rights to its mineral wealth.
President Trump has repeatedly complained that the US has "got nothing back" for what he claims is $350bn of military aid to Kyiv.
Yesterday he indicated that he sees the presence of American workers in Ukraine - not troops - as a security guarantee.
"We are a backstop because we'll be over there, we'll be working in the country," he said.
"That's a great thing economically for them because when you talk about economic development, we're going to have a lot of people over there."
At a news conference with the US President, Sir Kier Starmer reiterated that Britain was prepared to send troops.
"I'm working closely with other European leaders on this and I'm clear that the UK is ready to put boots on the ground and planes in the air to support a deal," he said.
The UK and France reportedly plan to send 30,000 peacekeepers to Ukraine if a ceasefire is reached.
Even with US support the size of the task will be immense.
The Centre for Strategic and International Studies estimates the buffer zone could stretch for 1,800 miles.
It says that will require more than 100,000 troops - 25,000 more than the entire regular British Army.
Analysts say those troops will also need air, naval and space assets to cover the air and maritime corridors Russia could use to launch a future pre-emptive attack.
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