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Tag: Keir Starmer

  • Keir Starmer – 2025 Remarks at UK-Ireland Summit

    Keir Starmer – 2025 Remarks at UK-Ireland Summit

    The comments made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, in Liverpool on 5 March 2025.

    Thanks Lisa, it’s really fantastic to see you all here and to be in this absolutely wonderful museum.

    I’ve been in this museum a number of times, but I’m normally bundled in to the top floor to do an interview with Laura Kuenssberg on the Sunday morning of our conference.

    So, to come and see it in all its glory is really really fantastic.

    As it is to look out and see all of you here.

    And particularly just to see UK and Ireland Summit 2025 on the walls here is absolutely amazing and really, really uplifting, so thank you all for coming.

    Look I know we’re still some days away from St. Patrick’s Day.

    But we’ve got some fantastic food and drink from Irish chef Anna Haugh who is here this evening.

    Fantastic music from the Liverpool String Quartet.

    And I know we’ve got incredible people in this room.

    Business leaders, people in the arts, education, politicians.

    And of course, a very big thank you to the Taoiseach Micheál Martin who is with us this evening.

    So, all in all I think we can consider this an early celebration of everything Irish…

    And everything that binds the UK and Ireland together.

    Micheál, everyone, it really is good to see you all here in Liverpool for this important summit

    A city which stands as the living embodiment of the connections between our two countries.

    As Lisa has alluded to, I’ve been to Ireland many times.

    But in September last year I visited Ireland for the first time as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

    That was an important and special moment for me.

    But it was a wider moment, not just because I got to watch the England-Ireland football match at the Aviva Stadium…I won’t mention the score.

    But because as the first visit by a UK Prime Minister in five years…

    And despite all the turbulence in recent times…

    It was a reminder of just how strong those ties are that bind us together.

    So, it was a really important moment for me personally,

    But a really important moment for the United Kingdom and for Ireland to have that first visit so early in my tenure as Prime Minister.

    So, I’m really delighted that the Irish delegation is here today…

    To continue strengthening that friendship…

    As we work to bring huge benefits to the people of both countries…

    By delivering greater trade, prosperity and security.

    Now many of you will know that as Prime Minister

    My focus is on delivering change

    Improving people’s lives

    Boosting growth

    So that we can raise living standards

    and put more money into people’s pockets

    And deliver the public services people need.

    But of course, we can do much more…

    When we work together with others.

    As I’ve said before, I don’t believe the relationship between the UK and Ireland has ever reached its full potential.

    And I’m delighted that now with this summit we’re going to change all that. What an opportunity.

    Micheál, I know we’ve got a lot to do over the coming days…

    We’ve got great ambitions for this summit.

    Talking together

    Speaking to business leaders

    Perhaps finding a moment for a bit of Guinness diplomacy.

    But tonight…

    I hope we can simply celebrate

    The UK and Ireland

    And everything that makes this such a fantastic friendship

    And now it’s my pleasure to introduce the Taoiseach, you’re so welcome I’m so pleased we were able to get this summit together: Micheál .

  • Keir Starmer – 2025 Remarks Following International Leaders Summit

    Keir Starmer – 2025 Remarks Following International Leaders Summit

    The remarks made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, at Lancaster House in London on 2 March 2025.

    Good afternoon.

    The first priority of this government – of any government…

    Is the security and safety of the British people…

    To defend the national interest…

    Particularly in these volatile times.

    That’s why, last week…

    I announced the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War.

    That’s also why I met President Trump last week…

    To strengthen our relationship with America –

    As indispensable partners in defence and security.

    And it’s why, this weekend, I have been hosting European leaders here in London…

    To work together…

    For the security of the United Kingdom, Ukraine and Europe as a whole.

    Through my discussions over recent days…

    We have agreed that the UK, France and others…

    Will work with Ukraine on a plan to stop the fighting…

    Then we’ll discuss that plan with the United States…

    And take it forward together.

    The purpose of today’s meeting was to unite our partners around this effort…

    To strengthen Ukraine…

    And to support a just and enduring peace…

    For the good of all of us.

    Our starting point must be…

    To put Ukraine in the strongest possible position now…

    So that they can negotiate from a position of strength.

    And we are doubling down in our support.

    Yesterday evening…

    The UK signed a £2.2 billion loan…

    To provide more military aid to Ukraine –

    Backed, not by the British taxpayer…

    But by the profits from frozen Russian assets.

    And today, I am announcing a new deal…

    Which allows Ukraine to use £1.6 billion of UK Export Finance…

    To buy more than 5,000 air defence missiles…

    Which will be made in Belfast…

    Creating jobs in our brilliant defence sector.

    This will be vital for protecting critical infrastructure now…

    And strengthening Ukraine in securing the peace, when it comes.

    Because we have to learn from the mistakes of the past.

    We cannot accept a weak deal like Minsk –

    Which Russia can breach with ease.

    Instead, any deal must be backed by strength.

    Every nation must contribute to that in the best way that it can.

    Bringing different capabilities and support to the table…

    But all taking responsibility to act…

    All stepping up to their own share of the burden.

    So we agreed some important steps today.

    First, we will keep the military aid flowing and keep increasing the economic pressure on Russia…

    To strengthen Ukraine now.

    Second, we agreed that any lasting peace must ensure Ukraine’s sovereignty and security.

    And Ukraine must be at the table.

    Third, in the event of a peace deal…

    We will keep boosting Ukraine’s own defensive capabilities…

    To deter any future invasion.

    Fourth, we will go further to develop a “coalition of the willing” to defend a deal in Ukraine…

    And to guarantee the peace.

    Not every nation will feel able to contribute.

    But that can’t mean 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…

    But to support peace on our continent.

    And to succeed, this effort must have strong US backing.

    We’re working with the US on this point, after my meeting with President Trump last week.

    And let me be clear – we agree with the President on the urgent need for a durable peace.

    Now we need to deliver, together.

    Finally, we agreed that leaders will meet again very soon…

    To keep the pace behind these actions…

    And to keep working towards this shared plan.

    We are at a crossroads in history today.

    This is not a moment for more talk –

    It is time to act….

    Time to step up and lead…

    And to unite around a new plan…

    For a just and enduring peace.

    Thank you.

  • Keir Starmer – 2025 Statement on the Leaders Meeting on Ukraine

    Keir Starmer – 2025 Statement on the Leaders Meeting on Ukraine

    The statement made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, on 2 March 2025.

    Today, I hosted counterparts from across Europe including Türkiye, as well as the NATO Secretary General and the Presidents of the EU Commission, EU Council and Canada, in London to discuss our support for Ukraine.

    Together, we reaffirmed our determination to work for a permanent peace in Ukraine, in partnership with the United States. Europe’s security is our responsibility above all. We will step up to this historic task and increase our investment in our own defence.

    We must not repeat the mistakes of the past when weak deals allowed President Putin to invade again. We will work with President Trump to ensure a strong, just, and lasting peace that ensures Ukraine’s future sovereignty and security. Ukraine must be able to deter and defend itself against future Russian attack. There must be no talks on Ukraine without Ukraine. We have agreed that the UK, France and others will work with Ukraine on a plan to stop the fighting which we will discuss further with the US and take forward together.

    Equally importantly, we discussed further rapid steps to enhance our support for Ukraine in pursuit of ‘peace through strength’. We will step up our military support, ensuring Ukraine has the support it needs to train its armed forces and accelerating our support in areas of greatest need. To help bring President Putin to the table, we will put further pressure on Russia by increasing sanctions, including on Russia’s energy revenues, while tightening enforcement of existing measures.

    We also agreed that Ukraine must have robust security arrangements in place at the time of any future peace deal so that Russia does not invade again. We will accelerate plans to build up Ukraine’s own armed forces and border defences after any deal, and ensure that Ukraine can draw on munitions, finance and equipment to defend itself.

    In addition, many of us expressed readiness to contribute to Ukraine’s security, including through a force consisting of European and other partners, and will intensify our planning.

    We will continue to work closely together to drive forward next steps, and will take decisions in the coming weeks.

  • Keir Starmer – 2025 Letter Accepting the Resignation of Anneliese Dodds

    Keir Starmer – 2025 Letter Accepting the Resignation of Anneliese Dodds

    The letter sent by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, on 28 February 2025.

    Letter (in ,pdf format)

  • Keir Starmer – 2025 Comments at White House Press Conference

    Keir Starmer – 2025 Comments at White House Press Conference

    The comments made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, on 27 February 2025.

    Thank you very much, Mr President.

    Thank you for your hospitality, thank you for your leadership.

    This has been a very good and very productive visit.

    And with your family roots in Scotland…

    And your close bond with His Majesty the King…

    It’s good to know…

    That the United Kingdom has a true friend in the Oval Office.

    And it was so good to see the bust of Winston Churchill back in its rightful place just a moment ago.

    But look, in a moment of real danger around the world…

    This relationship matters more than ever.

    We remain each other’s first partner in defence…

    Ready to come to the other’s aid…

    To counter threats, wherever and whenever they may arise.

    No two militaries are more intertwined than ours.

    No two countries have done more together to keep people safe.

    And in a few weeks’ time we’ll mark VE Day…

    The 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe.

    Britain and America fought side-by-side to make that happen –

    One of the greatest moments in our history.

    We stand side-by-side still, today…

    And we’re focused now…

    On bringing an enduring end to the barbaric war in Ukraine.

    Mr President, I welcome your deep, personal commitment…

    To bring peace and stop the killing.

    You have created a moment of tremendous opportunity…

    To reach an historic peace deal –

    A deal that would be celebrated in Ukraine and around the world.

    That is the prize.

    But we have to get it right.

    There’s a famous slogan in the United Kingdom…

    From after the Second World War –

    That is that we have to “win the peace.”

    And that’s what we must do now.

    Because it can’t be a peace that rewards the aggressor…

    Or that gives succour to regimes like Iran.

    We agree – history must be on the side of the peacemaker…

    Not the invader.

    So the stakes, they could not be higher.

    And we’re determined to work together to deliver a good deal.

    We’ve discussed a plan today…

    To reach a peace that is tough and fair…

    That Ukraine will help to shape…

    That is backed by strength –

    To stop Putin coming back for more.

    And I am working closely with other European leaders on this.

    And I am clear –

    That the UK is ready…

    To put boots on the ground and planes in the air to support a deal.

    Working together with our allies,

    Because that is the only way that peace that will last.

    Mr President, in this new era…

    You’re also right that Europe must step up.

    And let me tell you now –

    I see the growing threats we face…

    And so the UK is all in.

    This year we will be giving more military aid to Ukraine than ever.

    And just this week…

    I have set out how we are shouldering more of the security burden.

    We’re already one of the biggest spenders in NATO…

    And now we are going much further…

    Delivering Britain’s biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War.

    This isn’t just talk – it’s action.

    Rebalancing the transatlantic alliance…

    Making us all stronger…

    And standing up for our shared values and shared security…

    As Britain always has.

    Now, Mr President…

    It’s no secret we’re from different political traditions…

    But there is a lot that we have in common.

    We believe it’s not taking part that counts…

    What counts is winning.

    If you don’t win – you don’t deliver.

    And we’re determined to deliver for the working people of Britain and America –

    Who want – and deserve – to see their lives improve.

    So we’re both in a hurry to get things done.

    And that’s what the UK and the US do when we work together:

    We win – and we get things done.

    So we’ll do what it takes to keep our people safe…

    We will also work together…

    To deliver some big economic wins that can benefit us both.

    We have $1.5 trillion invested in each other’s economies…

    Creating over 2.5 million jobs across both economies.

    Our trading relationship is not just strong –

    It is fair, balanced and reciprocal.

    We’re leaders together in so many areas…

    Ranked one and two in the world as investment destinations…

    One and two for universities…

    One and two for Nobel prizes…

    One and two in golf, as well – by the way…

    And we’re the only two western countries with trillion dollar tech sectors –

    Leaders in AI…

    And look, we take a similar approach on this issue.

    Instead of over-regulating these new technologies…

    We’re seizing the opportunities they offer.

    So we have decided today to go further…

    To begin work on a new economic deal…

    With advanced technology at its core…

    Look – our two nations, together…

    Shaped the great technological innovations of the last century.

    We have a chance now…

    To do the same for the 21st century…

    I mean – artificial intelligence could cure cancer…

    That could be a moonshot for our age…

    And that’s how we will keep delivering for our people.

    There are so many opportunities.

    Keep our nations strong…

    And fulfil the promise of greatness…

    That has always defined this relationship.

    Finally, to underline the importance of this bond…

    It was my privilege and honour to bring a letter with me today –

    From His Majesty the King…

    Not only sending his best wishes…

    But also inviting the President and the First Lady to make a State Visit to the United Kingdom…

    An unprecedented second State Visit – this has never happened before.

    It’s so incredible it will be historic.

    And I’m delighted that I can go back to His Majesty The King and tell him that President Trump has accepted the invitation.

    So thank you.

    Our teams will now work together to set a date.

    Mr President, we look forward to welcoming you in the United Kingdom.

    Thank you once again.

  • Keir Starmer – 2025 Remarks At Ukraine Reception

    Keir Starmer – 2025 Remarks At Ukraine Reception

    The remarks made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, on 24 February 2025.

    It’s a privilege to welcome you all here to Downing Street this afternoon.

    This, of course, is not only my office and the centre of our government but it is also my home. So it is appropriate that I throw open the doors to my home to you and make you feel welcome in this building, which is where you should be.

    And particularly fitting that you are here in my home today as we recognise people who have been welcomed into homes across the country, and I know there are many of you here.

    I’ve just had the privilege and the opportunity to talk with a number of you who have been here some for some little time now and often with children. There are people here who have come, people here who have opened their doors and there are many others across the country.

    We are really proud of the people who have opened their doors, opened their hearts as well – because it’s not just a shelter, it’s opening hearts and making you feel welcome particularly in this time of conflict and uncertainty.

    And I said to the people I was talking to just now, I would love to be able to get you all together here again on a future occasion that isn’t an anniversary of an awful conflict because that is, of course, what it is today.

    Because in the face of that conflict, I do think the bond between our two countries has got stronger and stronger. I think it was a good strong bond anyway, but it has got much stronger and that’s happened across the kitchen tables up and down the nation, as well as the meeting tables.

    And of course, I have had the privilege of meeting President Zelenskyy very many times now, on a number of occasions in different places, including here in Downing Street and, of course, in Kyiv.

    I’ve actually been to Kyiv four times. I went twice before the conflict, because before I was a politician, I was the chief prosecutor and we were working with criminal justice colleagues in Kyiv. And so I have seen Kyiv in peace – a brilliant, fantastic city – and I’ve seen it twice, once as leader of the opposition and just a few weeks ago as Prime Minister, in this terrible conflict.

    When I was there just a few weeks ago, I was able to express our solidarity and support, and I was struck again by the resilience and strength of the Ukrainians, because that sense of civic duty, going and doing everyday work, and treating it as work for the nation was very, very strong.

    When I was there four weeks ago, I went to the burns unit at one of the hospitals and saw for myself some of those who have been on the frontline who were being treated in hospital with terrible burns from blasts, really life-changing injuries, and civilians as well who had been caught up in blasts.

    In one sense, it’s obvious when you’re in conflict you are going to see things like that but when you’re there and you see it right there, the human impact is huge.

    Because this isn’t just about discussions of defence and security in Europe, although it is that, it isn’t just about sovereignty and it is that, it is about the impact on human beings.

    When I was there I met children in a school in Kyiv, they were primary-school age so they were 8, 9, 10-years-old, living under the threat of bombardment all of the time. It’s what they are growing up with and I met some of them who had already lost their parents on the frontline at that tender age. That is really humbling, it really brought home to me the human impact of all of this.

    Politics is about the decisions you make but it is also about who you have in your mind’s eye when you make your decisions. And I think it is very important that we have you in our mind’s eye.

    When I was there with President Zelenskyy just a few weeks ago, we then went to have our discussion as two leaders and at that point a drone – a Russian drone – was up in the sky and had to be shot down right above the presidential palace, which for me was just a real reminder of what it is like to live in Kyiv and to have that threat every day now with the drones going up. It brought home to me the uncertainty and the fear – not just obviously for yourselves and the people living in the conflict, but all of their loved ones, and your family and extended family, and friends, and communities who are there and must be in your mind’s eye all of the time. And for your children and your country in the years to come.

    So, amongst my messages here this afternoon is you are not alone.

    We stand with you, and we have stood with you throughout this conflict and we will walk with you through this conflict, and we will continue to do so for as long as is necessary.

    I am proud that we opened our homes; I’m proud of our NHS workers in the hospital I went to Kyiv, who had gone out there with their skills to try and work with those working in the hospitals; the soldiers that are training Ukrainian troops.

    This is incredibly humbling work. I went to see it for myself down in Salisbury. Not only the professionalism of our troops who are doing the training but also the Ukrainian civilians, as they were, who had come to do the training. Through interpreters I talked to a number of them and they had been plumbers, they had been architects, working in local government, and here they were training to go to the frontline. And it was training that would normally take months being truncated into weeks. It was a real sense of what it is like to go through this awful conflict.

    Because we know that this fight is about Ukraine – it is about you, your communities – but it is also about us. This is bigger than Ukraine – it is, of course, about Ukrainian sovereignty but it not just Ukrainian sovereignty. It is about our way of life, our freedoms, about security and defence in Europe, and security and defence here in the United Kingdom, and the values that we hold dear.

    That’s why last time I was there I signed a 100-year partnership with Ukraine which is to signal the ongoing relationship that we want to build over many, many decades to come.

    It’s why we are sending £4.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine this year – that’s more than ever before. And working with our international partners to guarantee the security of Ukraine for generations to come.

    Because I strongly believe that whatever happens next, Ukraine must be in the strongest possible position. We must, we must, we must get peace through strength.

    The temptation is always there to think that it is job done, or something is about to happen. We have got to make sure that we continue with our full support, whether that is capability, whether that is money, whether that’s training – all the other support that we can put in. And that’s my constant message in the discussions I am having with international leaders

    We also need to be really clear as there are lots of discussions at the moment about negotiations: we can’t negotiate about Ukraine without Ukraine – you just can’t – and we must be absolutely clear about this.

    After everything you and your people, your country has been through, all the suffering and hardship – this is about the future of Ukraine and Ukraine must be at the table. It’s an absolute pre-condition.

    And we must work for a lasting peace. One of my biggest fears is that there is a ceasefire which is a temporary reprieve but simply gives Putin the space to come again and that would be the worst of outcomes.

    It must be a lasting peace for you, your children and your children’s children, so that you can live as you should be able to live, in a proud, safe and sovereign Ukraine; able to make sovereign decisions as a country about the alliance that Ukrainians want to make; the partnerships that Ukrainians want to make, and the way of life that Ukrainians want.

    So we will not falter in our support.

    We will not stop our efforts to end this war.

    And we will not rest until the people of Ukraine can live peacefully and safely in their own country.

    So thank you for being here; I do hope that I can have the privilege of seeing you here or elsewhere on an occasion where we are not celebrating another anniversary of this conflict but genuinely celebrating freedom and peace for Ukraine and for Europe.

    Thank you very much.

    Slava Ukraini.

  • Keir Starmer – 2025 Comments at a Meeting Convened by President Zelenskyy to Mark Three Years since the Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine

    Keir Starmer – 2025 Comments at a Meeting Convened by President Zelenskyy to Mark Three Years since the Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine

    The comments made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, on 24 February 2025.

    Thank you very much – colleagues, let me start with Volodymyr and saying on this day of all days, I want to pay tribute to your leadership Volodymyr. And friends – it’s right that we mark this grim anniversary together. For three years we have been united in opposition to Russia’s barbaric invasion. And for three years we have been full of admiration for the incredible response of the Ukrainian people.

    Their voices must be must at the heart of the drive for peace. And I want to be clear – I hear them. I think of the soldiers and civilians that I met in Kyiv just a few weeks ago in the ICU, in the burns unit… The witnesses to the horror of Bucha… The school children I met living under constant bombardment… The soldiers training in the UK, bound for the frontline… Their voices echo in my ears – They inform the decisions I take – and the peace that I believe we must see.

    So I have a very simple, clear message today: the UK is with you. Today and every day. From His Majesty the King… To the NHS workers volunteering in hospitals in Ukraine… To the communities that took Ukrainian refugees to their heart. And that’s why I signed our 100-year partnership with President Zelenskyy last month – Because we believe in Ukraine’s fight today, and the country’s incredible potential to thrive in the years to come.

    This is a time for unity. In this crucial moment as talks begin – we must work together to shape the outcome.

    Russia does not hold all the cards in this war… Because the Ukrainians have the courage to defend their country… Because Russia’s economy is in trouble… And because they have now lost the best of their land forces and their Black Sea Fleet in this pointless invasion. So we must increase the pressure even further to deliver an enduring peace, not just a pause in fighting. We can do that in three ways.

    First, by stepping up our military support to Ukraine. The UK is doing that… Providing £4.5bn in military aid this year – more than ever before. We’re doing more than ever to train Ukrainian troops, helping Ukraine to mobilise even further… And we’re proud to have taken on the leadership of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group.

    Secondly, we must keep dialling up the economic pressure… To get Putin to a point where he is ready not just to talk, but to make concessions. So today we’re announcing the UK’s largest package of sanctions since the early days of the war… Going after Russia’s shadow fleet… And going after companies in China and elsewhere who are sending military components.
    Later today I will be discussing further steps with the G7 – And I am clear that the G7 should be ready to take on more risk – Including on the oil price cap… Sanctioning Russia’s oil giants… And going after the banks that are enabling the evasion of sanctions.

    Third, we must bring our collective strength to the peace effort.
    President Trump has changed the global conversation over the last few weeks. And it has created an opportunity. Now, we must get the fundamentals right.

    If we want peace to endure, Ukraine must have a seat at the table… And any settlement must be based on a sovereign Ukraine… Backed up with strong security guarantees. The UK is ready and willing to support this with troops on the ground – With other Europeans, and with the right conditions in place.
    And ultimately a US backstop will be vital to deter Russia from launching another invasion in just a few years’ time.

    So we will do everything we can to get the best outcome for Ukraine – and for us all. Let me close with one of those voices I mentioned earlier – A patient called Petro, from the burns unit I visited in Kyiv. He said to me… “If Ukraine fails, Europe will be next.” That is what’s at stake here. That is why we will always stand with Ukraine, and with our allies… Against this aggression… And for a just and lasting peace. Slava Ukraini.

  • Keir Starmer – 2025 Statement on Oded Lifschitz

    Keir Starmer – 2025 Statement on Oded Lifschitz

    The statement made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, on 20 February 2025.

    I was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Oded Lifschitz after he was taken hostage by terrorists in Gaza, and I extend my heartfelt condolences to his daughter Sharone and his wife Yocheved.

    When I met Sharone in Downing Street, she showed remarkable strength in the face of the most difficult circumstances. The news of her father’s death is a tragedy. It is my hope that the peace he worked to see in the region through his charity work and activism will be achieved.

    My thoughts are also with the Bibas family, who have faced immense pain as they awaited news of Shiri and her sons Kfir and Ariel.

    We must see all remaining hostages released, and the ceasefire upheld. My government remains committed to working with our international partners to bring an end this suffering and secure a long-term peace in the Middle East.

  • Keir Starmer – 2025 Article in the Telegraph on Ukraine

    Keir Starmer – 2025 Article in the Telegraph on Ukraine

    The article in the Daily Telegraph written by Keir Starmer and released by 10 Downing Street as a press release on 17 February 2025.

    We are facing a once-in-a-generation moment for the collective security of our continent. This is not only a question about the future of Ukraine – it is existential for Europe as a whole.

    Securing a lasting peace in Ukraine that safeguards its sovereignty for the long term is essential if we are to deter Putin from further aggression in the future.

    To achieve it, Europe and the United States must continue to work closely together – and I believe the UK can play a unique role in helping to make this happen, just as we did this past week in stepping in to convene and chair the Ukraine Defence Contact Group.

    First, Europe must step up further to meet the demands of its own security. So I am heading to Paris with a very clear message for our European friends. We have got to show we are truly serious about our own defence and bearing our own burden. We have talked about it for too long – and president Trump is right to demand that we get on with it.

    As European nations, we must increase our defence spending and take on a greater role in Nato. Non-US Nato nations have already increased defence spending by 20 per cent in the past year, but we must go further.

    Russia is still waging war and Ukraine is still fighting for its freedom, which is why we must not relent in our efforts to get the kit Ukrainians need for their fighters on the front line. While the fighting continues, we must put Ukraine in the strongest possible position ahead of any talks.

    The UK is ready to play a leading role in accelerating work on security guarantees for Ukraine. This includes further support for Ukraine’s military, where the UK has already committed £3 billion a year until at least 2030. But it also means being ready and willing to contribute to security guarantees to Ukraine by putting our own troops on the ground if necessary.

    I do not say that lightly. I feel very deeply the responsibility that comes with potentially putting British servicemen and women in harm’s way. But any role in helping to guarantee Ukraine’s security is helping to guarantee the security of our continent, and the security of this country.

    The end of this war, when it comes, cannot merely become a temporary pause before Putin attacks again.

    But second, while European nations must step up in this moment – and we will – US support will remain critical and a US security guarantee is essential for a lasting peace, because only the US can deter Putin from attacking again. So I will be meeting president Trump in the coming days and working with him and all our G7 partners to help secure the strong deal we need.

    We must be clear that peace cannot come at any cost. Ukraine must be at the table in these negotiations, because anything less would accept Putin’s position that Ukraine is not a real nation.

    President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people have shown the most extraordinary resilience and made such great sacrifices in the defence of their nation. We cannot have another situation like Afghanistan, where the US negotiated directly with the Taliban and cut out the Afghan government. I feel sure that president Trump will want to avoid this too.

    While Nato membership may take time, we should continue to support Ukraine’s irreversible path to joining the alliance.

    We should also show greater strength in applying economic pressure. Putin’s economy is feeling the strain – he is worried about his energy revenues and his financial sector.

    Working together, the US, Europe and all our G7 allies should seek to go further on the oil price cap, the Shadow Fleet, the sanctioning of oil giants, and going after those banks that are enabling the evasion of sanctions.

    These crucial days ahead will determine the future security of our continent. As I will say in Paris, peace comes through strength. But the reverse is also true. Weakness leads to war.

    This is the moment for us all to step up, and the UK will do so because it is the right thing to do for the values and freedoms we hold dear, and because it is fundamental to our own national security.

  • Keir Starmer – 2025 Statement on the Release of Eli Sharabi

    Keir Starmer – 2025 Statement on the Release of Eli Sharabi

    The statement made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, on 8 February 2025.

    I shared the relief of so many at Eli Sharabi’s release earlier today but was dismayed to see his frail condition and the circumstances of his release. Having met his relatives I appreciate the deep pain they have endured and my thoughts are with them.

    We must continue to see all the hostages freed – these people were ripped away from their lives in the most brutal circumstances and held in appalling conditions. The ceasefire must hold and all efforts need to focus on full implementation of the remaining phases. This includes the return of further hostages, the continued increase of aid into Gaza and securing lasting peace in the Middle East.