Starmer to defy Trump with new aid for Ukraine

Telegraph

21-02-2025

Sir Keir Starmer is to announce a new package of support for Ukraine, despite Donald Trump piling pressure on Kyiv to back down and accept a peace deal with Russia.
The Telegraph can reveal that the Prime Minister will use the third anniversary of Russia's invasion to unveil a 'triple whammy' of measures, including military aid and sanctions, on Monday.
It is in stark contrast to the approach taken by Mr Trump, who has in recent days called Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, a 'dictator' and is pressing for a speedy end to the conflict.
Amid a widening split between the US and Europe over the Ukraine war, the US president on Friday accused Sir Keir of doing 'nothing' to bring the conflict to a close.
The US also indicated that it could leave an international effort to prosecute Russia for war crimes.
The differences between London and Washington will be put under a spotlight when Sir Keir visits the White House for face-to-face talks with Mr Trump on Thursday.
In an attempt to calm any tensions, The Telegraph understands that during the trip Sir Keir is expected to finally announce the date – most likely to be 2030 – by which 2.5 per cent of UK GDP will be spent on defence.
He will also hand over an invitation from the King offering a state visit to the UK, making Mr Trump the first elected leader in modern history to receive the honour twice.
But Sir Keir's new support package for Ukraine risks frustrating the White House. A senior government source defended the approach, saying: 'We have always said we want to put Ukraine in the strongest position, whether that's for going into talks or for the continuation of fighting.
'We still don't know which of those positions we're going to be in. It's right that we continue to support Ukraine in all the ways that we have long said we will.'
In the past fortnight, European leaders have been left reeling after Mr Trump began peace talks with Russia without Ukraine at the table, and signalled that US security support for Europe would be scaled back.
The US president's administration has refused to sign off a planned G7 statement, which calls calls Russia the 'aggressor' in the war with Ukraine, to mark the third anniversary of the conflict.
Washington is similarly refusing to co-sponsor a United Nations statement that supports Ukraine's territorial integrity and demands Moscow withdraw its forces from the war-torn nation.
The Telegraph can also reveal that the US has signalled it could leave an international effort to prosecute Russia for invading Ukraine.
US envoys refused to label Russia an 'aggressor' at a meeting of a 'core group' of countries preparing a Nuremberg-style tribunal to try Vladimir Putin for his war crimes, according to Western officials.
Next week, Emmanuel Macron, the French president, and then Sir Keir will travel to Washington in an attempt to convince Mr Trump to soften his approach.
However, the gap between the UK and US positions on the conflict will be underscored on Monday. A package of measures involving three different government departments is being drawn up inside Whitehall to show UK support for Ukraine.
The Ministry of Defence will announce new details of its military aid for Ukraine. One idea under discussion is extra weapons for Mr Zelensky's forces, but it has yet to be fully signed off.
The Foreign Office will unveil a major set of sanctions against Russia, building on a drive that has seen 1,900 Russian people and entities sanctioned since the invasion of Ukraine. The Home Office will launch a crackdown on Russian 'dirty money', according to one government source. Oligarchs backing Putin could be targeted.
Some in Whitehall have described the package of measures as a 'full triple whammy' designed to underline Britain's backing for Kyiv. Final details were still being drawn up on Friday evening.
On Monday, John Healey, the Defence Secretary, will give interviews explaining the extra support. David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, is expected to address the Commons.
The challenge awaiting Sir Keir in his first meeting with Mr Trump since he entered the White House became even more apparent on Friday.
The US president said of Sir Keir and Mr Macron: 'They didn't do anything either [to end the war]. The war's going on, no meetings with Russia, no nothing. Macron is a friend of mine, and I've met with the Prime Minister, he's a very nice guy... [but] nobody's done anything.'
Sir Keir is understood to be bringing forward the long-awaited announcement of when he will increase UK defence spending from 2.3 per cent of GDP to 2.5 per cent.
The year had been due to be unveiled after a strategic defence review was completed and published in the spring, and possibly as late as June. Now, however, it is expected that Sir Keir will name the date during his visit to the US. Rishi Sunak, the former Tory prime minister, had promised to hit the target in 2030.
The move would be likely to be sold to Mr Trump as further proof that Downing Street agrees with his demand for increased defence spending from European nations and is acting on it.
However, the announcement could be followed by awkward questions, including why Sir Keir will not go higher. Mr Trump has floated a five per cent defence spending target for Nato nations, even though the US's own defence spending is under four per cent.
No 10 is also likely to be pressed about how the spending increase would be paid for, given the tightness of the public finances.