Outside the Elysee Palace, Starmer embraced French President Emmanuel Macron as European leaders met to strategize following Donald Trump’s recent moves on Ukraine.
In a statement earlier, Starmer emphasized the need for any resolution to be lasting and backed by U.S. military guarantees. He indicated that the UK would be prepared to deploy troops if necessary and drew parallels to the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, which Trump had called “one of the greatest defeats in American history.” Starmer highlighted the importance of Ukraine signing off on any terms and vowed to avoid a similar situation.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is currently in Saudi Arabia, expected to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also scheduled to visit the region but insists he is unaware of any negotiations.
Tensions have escalated as the U.S. dismissed the notion of involving European leaders in talks, prompting frustration from European officials. Meanwhile, Lavrov mocked European leaders, claiming they had already rejected previous Russian terms.
Starmer reiterated his intent to leverage the UK’s “special relationship” with the U.S. to mediate with the Trump administration. In an op-ed for The Telegraph, Starmer urged Trump to offer U.S. security guarantees, stating that Ukraine’s future depends on them. He criticized the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal under Joe Biden, which Trump had also condemned.
The Paris summit, led by Macron, includes leaders from Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, and senior officials from NATO and the EU. A former Trump national security adviser dismissed European complaints as a “temper tantrum,” while Lavrov suggested their involvement was unnecessary.
Starmer addressed the UK’s military challenges, noting increased spending is essential. He committed to a target of 2.5% of GDP for defense spending but did not announce any immediate increases. He stressed the importance of Europe stepping up, saying, “This is about our national security, not just Ukraine’s.”
Amid debates over how to fund defense increases, Health Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed the UK’s pledge to avoid raising income tax, national insurance, or VAT, suggesting any additional spending would require cuts elsewhere or more borrowing.
In his article, Starmer said the UK must be “ready and willing” to contribute to Ukraine’s security, even if it means deploying British troops. He emphasized the stakes are existential for Europe, warning against a temporary peace that could allow Putin to regroup.
No10 declined to confirm whether Parliament would vote on any troop deployment but affirmed the UK’s commitment to Ukraine, including £3 billion annually until 2030. Starmer warned that Ukraine’s path to NATO membership is “irreversible” and proposed tougher sanctions on Russia’s economy, including oil exports and financial networks evading sanctions.
With the U.S. calling for Europe to shoulder more of its defense burden, Starmer pledged to “bear our own burden” but resisted calls to raise spending beyond 2.5% of GDP. NATO allies and Trump have urged higher spending targets, but Starmer remains committed to his current plan.
As he prepares for a meeting with Trump later this month, Starmer said, “We must show we are serious about defense and prepared for the generational challenges ahead.”
