BRUSSELS, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrapped up his trip to Washington on Thursday, failing to persuade U.S. President Donald Trump to pledge security guarantees for Ukraine or Europe.

Starmer was the second European leader to visit Washington in a week, trying to secure a role for Europe at the negotiating table for the settlement of the Ukraine crisis. However, like French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited Washington on Monday, Starmer returned home virtually empty-handed in this regard.

The about-face in U.S. policy over Ukraine under Trump and the fast-evolving U.S.-Russia talks, which unambiguously point to a thaw of bilateral relations, have caught both Brussels and Kiev off guard.

WHAT ARE EUROPE'S MAIN GOALS?

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stressed that Europe and Ukraine must be involved in the discussion of any deal if the United States and Russia want them to accept it. Many European leaders have echoed this position, emphasizing the connection between Ukraine's security and that of Europe.

Having a say in the negotiations has been a priority for Europe. With this goal in mind, Macron convened two meetings with both European and non-European partners to coordinate a unified stance before his visit to Washington. The gatherings concluded with a firm position: any peace talks must include both Ukraine and Europe.

WHAT ARE THE TRANSATLANTIC DISAGREEMENTS?

During their visits to Washington, both Macron and Starmer sought U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine. They pledged increased defense spending on the European side, including sending European peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, while also emphasizing the importance of U.S. support, such as aerial intelligence and surveillance.

However, Trump sidestepped the question of security guarantees, expressing confidence that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, would "keep his word" if an agreement is reached. He also ruled out the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO. Ukraine's NATO membership has been a focal issue in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Trump's stance is a big win for Russia.

During her visit to the United States, Kallas emphasized that the United States must include "credible security guarantees" in its upcoming deal with Ukraine, rejecting Trump's statement that the presence of U.S. mining companies in Ukraine should be considered a security guarantee.

Europe and America also have disagreements over the value of their assistance to Ukraine.

While Trump emphasized how much America has spent during the three-year-old Ukraine crisis and vowed to be reimbursed through a raw material agreement with Ukraine, Macron interrupted and corrected him about the value of Europe's contribution during their joint Oval Office appearance on Monday.

Grabbing Trump's arm to interject, Macron said, "No, in fact, to be frank, we paid. We paid 60 percent of the total effort." He went on to clarify that European aid to Ukraine was structured similarly to American aid. "It was like the United States: loans, guarantees, grants."

Shrugging off Macron's interjection, Trump said, "If you believe that, it's OK with me. They get their money back, and we don't. But now we do."

Regarding Russia's genuine intentions in the peace talks, Brussels and Washington also differ. The EU criticized Trump for falling for a Russian narrative, while Trump insisted on his belief in Putin.

Europe will continue striving for more leverage before a final peace deal is reached. On Sunday, Starmer will host a meeting on Ukraine in Britain, gathering international leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

WHAT DIVIDES EUROPE ON THE UKRAINE ISSUE?

Though the EU and many European leaders have called for solidarity at the EU level in addressing the Ukraine crisis, many member states remain skeptical of the bloc's capability, given that Europe is facing deep divisions over whether to deploy troops to Ukraine under a peacekeeping framework.

Both Macron and Starmer have been vocal about security guarantees, including the possibility of deploying troops to Ukraine. However, the European "reassurance force" proposed by Britain and France last week would comprise fewer than 30,000 troops, falling short of the 200,000 soldiers Zelensky called for.

Regardless of the numbers, the proposal lacks broad support among EU leaders. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had earlier questioned the peacekeeping plan, stating that deploying European soldiers in Ukraine seemed to be the most complex and perhaps the least effective option.

There are also concerns among EU member states about the risk that even a limited European military presence could bring NATO closer to direct conflict with Russia.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that Poland will not send troops into Ukraine but will continue its support through organizational efforts, financial aid, humanitarian assistance, and military backing.

On Ukraine's NATO membership, the EU remains divided over its feasibility. Poland, along with eight Nordic and Baltic countries, advocates for Ukraine's membership. However, several EU member states have shown reluctance, as Putin has warned that Ukraine's accession to NATO would be seen as a direct provocation.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Saturday that Ukraine would again become a buffer zone between Russia and NATO countries, adding, "It will not become a NATO member."

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has also expressed outright opposition to Ukraine's NATO membership on several occasions, warning of further destabilization in Europe. Enditem

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