Political reporter
PA MediaSir Keir Starmer is not going to be “derailed” in working to finish the conflict in Ukraine after the US paused navy help to the nation, the deputy prime minister has mentioned.
Angela Rayner mentioned the prime minister was “laser focussed on getting peace” and would proceed “dialogue” with each President Donald Trump and Europe.
She mentioned this was “a really critical second” within the conflict and confused the UK, together with its European allies, have been targeted on supporting Ukraine.
The US president made the choice to freeze US navy help for Ukraine on Monday, after a gathering with members of his prime workforce.
The US is by far the most important particular person donor of navy help to Ukraine, offering weapons, tools and monetary help.
The US has dedicated about $66bn (£52bn) in safety help to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of the nation in 2022. The UK has dedicated £7.8bn in navy help throughout the identical interval.
The US resolution to pause navy help got here hours after Trump criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for saying the tip of the conflict with Russia is “very, very far-off”.
The pair had an explosive spat within the Oval Workplace final Friday, with Trump telling Zelensky he was “playing with World Struggle Three” by refusing to think about a ceasefire with out US safety ensures.
Zelensky left the White Home earlier than a proposed deal on sharing Ukrainian minerals with American firms may very well be signed.
On Monday, the White Home introduced it was “reviewing” the supply of ammunition and different tools to Ukraine to “be sure that it’s contributing to an answer”.
The order to pause all present American navy help to Ukraine takes impact instantly, and contains all US navy tools not at present in Ukraine, together with weapons in transit and at depots in Poland.
The pause will have an effect on greater than $1bn (£790m) in arms and ammunition, together with rockets, anti-tank weapons, and armoured autos of the type Ukraine has relied on in its effort to repel Russian forces.
The pause in help will heap extra strain on Zelensky to signal the minerals deal and conform to peace talks with out the US safety ensures he has been searching for.
In an interview with Fox Information, US Vice-President JD Vance mentioned the door was open for Ukraine to return to negotiations if Zelensky was “keen to noticeably discuss peace”.
Russia has tentatively welcomed the pause in US help to Ukraine, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov calling it a “resolution which may actually push the Kyiv regime to a peace course of”.
Fedir Venislavsky, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament’s defence committee, mentioned his nation had a weapons stockpile that will final six months “with out constant assist from the US”.
‘Profoundly worrying’
Reacting to the choice, Rayner advised the NUZTO the Trump administration needed Europe to step up and had been clear about its intentions to finish the conflict in Ukraine.
Rayner mentioned the prime minister was additionally “laser-focused on getting peace”.
“He will not be derailed by bulletins,” Rayner advised Radio 4’s As we speak programme.
“He’ll proceed that dialogue with our oldest and strongest ally, the US, and with European companions and with Ukraine.”
Conservative chief Kemi Badenoch mentioned the UK and Europe should “rearm sooner” following the US announcement.
She mentioned: “The information in a single day that America is halting navy help to Ukraine is profoundly worrying.”
Reform UK chief Nigel Farage mentioned the pause in help between the US and Ukraine solely helped Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He posted: “I hope that Keir Starmer can use his new function to deliver the 2 collectively and shortly.”
Final week, Sir Keir met Trump on the White Home, because the prime minister tried the form the American method to ending the conflict in Ukraine.
Over the weekend, Sir Keir hosted a summit of western leaders, as they scramble to form peace negotiations and easy over fractured relations between Trump and Zelensky.
The UK and France are taking a number one function and have each dedicated to ship troopers to Ukraine, beneath one proposal.
However aside from rising spending on defence, there seems to be no consensus on a plan to finish the conflict amongst European leaders.
On Tuesday, European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen offered a five-part plan to mobilise some €800bn (£660m) for Europe’s defence and assist present “speedy” navy help for Ukraine.
“It is a second for Europe, and we’re able to step up,” von der Leyen mentioned.
A UK authorities spokesperson mentioned: “We stay completely dedicated to securing a long-lasting peace in Ukraine and are participating with key allies in help of this effort.
“It’s the proper factor to do, and is in our curiosity to take action.”
