Political reporter
EPASir Keir Starmer has reaffirmed the UK will proceed to again Ukraine’s “irreversible path” to becoming a member of Nato regardless of main figures in President Trump’s administration showing to rule out membership.
The prime minister instructed Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky he stood by a pledge made alongside ex-president Joe Biden eventually yr’s Nato summit in Washington, to assist Ukraine’s bid for membership.
The 2 leaders spoke on the cellphone forward of worldwide leaders assembly on the Munich Safety Convention.
Sir Keir’s feedback are in stark distinction to these of the Trump administration, which has stated this week that Nato membership for Ukraine is just not a “real looking prospect”.
In a readout of the decision, a Downing Road spokeswoman stated: “The Prime Minister started by reiterating the UK’s concrete assist for Ukraine, for so long as it is wanted.
“He was unequivocal that there may very well be no talks about Ukraine, with out Ukraine.
“Ukraine wanted sturdy safety ensures, additional deadly help and a sovereign future, and it may depend on the UK to step up, he added.
“The prime minister reiterated the UK’s dedication to Ukraine being on an irreversible path to Nato as agreed by allies on the Washington Summit final yr.”
The leaders agreed it was an “essential second to exhibit worldwide unity and assist for Ukraine” and “agreed to remain in shut contact”, the assertion added.
The UK has needed to stroll a high quality line between its assist for Kyiv and sustaining good relations with President Trump, who this week agreed to open negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin whereas signalled his willingness to make concessions to Moscow.
Trump’s defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, has stated restoring Ukraine’s territory to the place it was earlier than the primary Russian invasion in 2014 is solely “not real looking”.
Talking at a defence summit in Brussels on Wednesday, Hegseth additionally downplayed the prospect of Ukraine becoming a member of Nato.
His remarks have been the clearest indication but of the Trump administration’s place on the Ukraine battle and what a peace plan to finish the battle may contain.
Ukraine has repeatedly known as for Nato membership and has rejected ceding territory as a part of any peace deal.
Nato’s official place is that Ukraine is on an “irreversible” path to becoming a member of the alliance, which was established at a gathering in Washington final yr and signed off by Sir Keir and ex-president Biden.
Sir Keir additionally took a cellphone name from President Trump late on Thursday night time, after they mentioned “his forthcoming go to to the US”, No 10 stated.
ReutersZelensky has warned Putin is “positively not getting ready for negotiations”, however to “proceed deceiving the world” as he appealed for unified stress from allies on Russia.
Overseas Secretary David Lammy stated he and US Vice President JD Vance would have talks on the sidelines of the Munich convention.
Stood subsequent to Vance at a information convention, Lammy stated the pair had “essential points to debate on Ukraine and the way we assist Ukraine” throughout a “robust second”.
Lammy stated the UK was “dedicated to growing defence and encourage our associates throughout Europe to do the identical”.
Vance stated their dialogue would deal with what he and Lammy “spoke about a few years in the past after we met, which is our shared perception that Europe actually ought to take an even bigger function in its personal safety”.
