British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned that Europe stands at a pivotal moment in history, calling on European allies to take greater responsibility for defending the continent as world leaders gathered in London to discuss ways to stop Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Speaking on Sunday, Starmer pledged the UK would supply 5,000 air defense missiles to Ukraine, backed by £1.6 billion ($2 billion) in export financing. He urged European nations to increase their arms spending to bolster their own defenses and support Kyiv — but rejected suggestions that his appeal reflected doubts about the United States’ reliability as an ally.
“There are no two countries more closely aligned than the UK and the US,” Starmer said. “But history shows that if there is conflict in Europe, it will wash up on our shores.”
The summit follows heightened uncertainty over US support for Ukraine after President Donald Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accusing him of not showing enough gratitude for American aid.
“Even while Russia talks about peace, they are continuing their relentless aggression,” Starmer said at the meeting’s opening. “To support peace in our continent, and to succeed, this effort must have strong US backing.”
Despite tensions, Starmer positioned himself as a mediator, vowing to engage with Trump, Zelenskyy, and French President Emmanuel Macron to revive peace talks — a shift away from escalating rhetoric.
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