Starmer’s remarks come as Europe prepares to step up military support for Ukraine ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration in January. Trump is expected to push Kyiv into negotiations with Moscow.
“So we must continue to back Ukraine and do what it takes to support their self-defense for as long as it takes,” Starmer said at the annual Lord Mayor’s Banquet in London.
“To put Ukraine in the strongest possible position for negotiations so that they can secure a just and lasting peace on their terms that guarantees their security, independence, and right to choose their future.”
Starmer added that support for Ukraine was in the best interest of not only the UK, but all of Europe, arguing that unchecked Russian aggression posed to great a threat to international security.
“The further Russian troops advance, the closer the threat becomes,” he continued.
“The more land they control, the more they control grain prices and energy sources, and the more confident (Russian President Vladimir) Putin becomes.”
With Trump’s return to Washington imminent, both the UK and France are reportedly exploring options to support Ukraine in potential peace talks with Russia. A senior NATO official said on Dec. 2 that one scenario could include deploying UK and French troops to monitor a ceasefire along the contact line.
Starmer backed up his rhetoric on support for Ukraine with shipments of Storm Shadow cruise missiles this fall, Bloomberg reported in late November.
Ukrainian forces recently used the Storm Shadow missiles to strike Russian targets in the western Bryansk region, one day after deploying US-made ATACMS in similar operations.
