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Starmer spoke to the press following the summit of Canadian, Turkish and European leaders held at Lancaster House on the future of Ukraine.
Europe must “do the heavy lifting” on four “important steps” agreed for the future defence of Ukraine by leaders from Europe, Canada and Turkey today at a summit which took place “at a crossroads in history today”, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said following the meeting.The agreement needs US backing, though, he said adding: “Let me clear, we agree with Trump on the urgent need for a durable peace. Now we need to deliver together.”He said the leaders at the summit agreed on the need to keep military aid flowing into Ukraine while the war is ongoing and to ensure any peace safeguards Ukraine’s sovereignty and guarantees the country’s seat at the negotiating table.In the event of a peace deal, European leaders will aim to deter any future invasion by Russia into Ukraine, through a “coalition of the willing” to defend Ukraine and guarantee peace, he added.Starmer said leaders at the summit agreed to meet again soon in order to “keep the pace behind these actions” and keep working towards a shared plan.”We are at a crossroads in history today,” he said, adding that: “This is not a moment for more talk – it’s time to act and unite around a new plan for a just and enduring peace.”Beyond France and the UK, Starmer did not name other members signed up to coalition but said that every nation must contribute in the best way it can, by all taking responsibility and stepping up their own share.Starmer also announced that the UK government will allow Ukraine to use £1.6bn of UK export finance to buy more than five thousand air defence missiles, which he said would be made in Belfast, creating jobs in the UK’s defence sector.Asked if his confidence in the US was shaken after last Friday’s Oval office meeting, Starmer said: “I do not accept that the US is an unreliable ally, there are no two countries as closely aligned as our two countries.””This is a plan we’re working toward with the US, and with US backing,” he said.
