By Keir Starmer
I should say it’s very good to be back here. And as you know, the UK’s commitment to NATO is stronger than ever because the need for NATO is clearer than ever.
We’ve had a very good and productive discussion today, on how we can meet the rising threats that Russia poses across our continent including the situation, of course, in Ukraine.
A couple of weeks ago, as you know, I was in Kyiv. I saw residential buildings, destroyed just days before. I met soldiers in the ICU recovering from really terrible burns, and I met children, whose parents are out there now, on the frontline. And, it’s yet another reminder that this is not a war not just in Ukraine.
It’s a war on Ukraine. Against those children and their future. That’s why – together – we stand with them. We are all working to end this war.
But let’s be absolutely clear – Peace will come through strength. And we must do all we can now to support Ukraine’s defence. And that means stabilising the front line. Providing the kit and the training they need. And that’s why, this year, the UK will give more military support to Ukraine than ever before.
We need to see all allies stepping up – particularly in Europe. President Donald Trump has threatened more sanctions on Russia, and it’s clear that that’s got Putin rattled.
We know that he’s worried about the state of the Russian economy. So I’m here to work with our European partners on keeping up the pressure, targeting the energy revenues and the companies supplying his missile factories, to crush Putin’s war machine.
Because, ultimately – alongside our military support that is what will bring peace closer. And we must keep working together to bolster NATO. And as you say, things that would have provoked utter outrage, just a few years ago have now become almost commonplace:
- Russian spy ships loitering off the British coast;
- A campaign of sabotage across Europe;
- Cyber-attacks, election interference, and attempted assassinations.
Russia is seeking to destabilise our continent – target our values. So we should still be outraged. And we must harden European’s defence.
In the UK we are proud to be a leading NATO ally part of the Forward Land Forces, helping to police our skies and patrol our seas.
Our defence spending is of course 2.3 percent of GDP now. And we are working hard work to set the path to 2.5 percent. And NATO plans and requirements. As well as the principle of “NATO First”.
Will be at the heart of our Strategic Defence Review this year. Across Europe, we must shoulder more of the burden now – because it is our burden to carry. Now that’s what I’ll be discussing at the EU Council this evening.
We want to deliver an ambitious UK-EU Security partnership to bolster NATO. Covering military technology and R&D – improving the mobility of forces across Europe, protecting our critical infrastructure and deepening our industrial collaboration to increase defence production.
We can’t be commentators when it comes to matters of peace on our continent.
We must lead. And that is what I’m determined to do.
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