Sir Keir Starmer has said Europe will need to do the “heavy lifting” to ensure peace in Ukraine, but added “we need US backing”.
Following a security summit in London aimed at ending Russia’s war with Ukraine, the prime minister said that “any deal must be backed by strength”.
He added: “Not every nation will feel able to contribute but that can’t mean that we sit back. Instead, those willing will intensify planning now with real urgency, the UK is prepared to back this with boots on the ground and planes in the air, together with others. Europe must do the heavy lifting.”
It came on the same day that president Zelensky met King Charles in a highly unusual political gesture by the monarch, seemingly designed to send a clear signal to the US president after he berated the Ukrainian leader in the Oval Office on Friday.
Sir Keir also announced a deal which will allow Ukraine to use £1.6 billion of export finance to buy more than 5,000 air defence missiles.
The prime minister said that he does not accept the US is an “unreliable ally”.
“There are no two countries as closely aligned as our two countries and our defence, our security and intelligence is intertwined in a way no two other countries are, so it’s an important and reliable ally for us.”
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