Keir Starmer, Uk prime minister
Photo credit: Reuters
The United Kingdom (UK) has announced a record £4.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine as the country faces mounting pressure to keep Russia at bay.
Keir Starmer, UK prime minister, said the aid package was part of efforts to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war with Ukraine and make concessions.
Starmer spoke to world leaders in a clip from a video conference posted via his X account on Monday.
“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,” the UK PM said.
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“So we must increase the pressure even further to deliver an enduring peace, not just a pause in the fighting.
“And we could do that in three ways. First, by stepping up our military support to Ukraine and the UK is doing that, providing 4.5 billion pounds in military aid this year—more than ever before.
“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.”
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Starmer said the UK would also issue its “largest packet” of sanctions since the early days of the war against Russia.
“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,” he added.
Earlier on Monday, the UK announced over 100 new sanctions directly targeting those supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The sanctions target producers and suppliers of machine tools, electronics, and dual-use goods for Russia’s military, including microprocessors used in weapons systems
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The home office said it would widen travel sanctions for Kremlin-linked elites.
Starmer’s speech comes ahead of his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday.
The UK PM is expected to discuss the importance of Ukraine’s independence, US security guarantees, and Europe’s involvement in peace talks when he speaks to Trump.
Starmer is also hoping to ease brewing tensions between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after both leaders exchanged words last week.
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