Sir Keir Starmer has held non-public calls with European leaders to make sure the Western alliance doesn’t fracture, a minister has mentioned, after Donald Trump claimed Volodymyr Zelenskyy was a “dictator”.
The conversations come forward of a gathering with Mr Trump in Washington DC subsequent week after the president mentioned Ukrainian chief Mr Zelenskyy was a dictator.
He additionally mentioned Mr Zelenskyy “better move fast or he is not going to have a country left” as peace talks between the US and Russia – with out Ukraine – happened in Saudi Arabia.
The choice for the talks to happen with out Kyiv or Europe has brought on concern and sparked an emergency assembly of European leaders in France earlier this week.
Sir Keir backed the Ukrainian president in a telephone name with him and mentioned he was “Ukraine’s democratically elected leader”.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
1:28
‘Dictator’ Zelenskyy ‘higher transfer quick’
Ms Nandy mentioned Sir Keir has been very clear Mr Zelenskyy is just not a dictator and added: “As always, we stand with Ukraine.”
She mentioned the UK authorities was “very encouraged” by the US saying no choices are off the desk relating to Ukraine peace talks.
Ms Nandy added: “We want to, bring partners together around the table and it looks increasingly likely that will be possible – both Ukraine, Russia, the Europeans ourselves and the United States.
“We will not do that with none of these companions and that is why the prime minister has spent fairly appreciable period of time in the previous few days having these non-public conversations with our allies to make it possible for alliance does not fracture, that we stand as one and we discover the correct answer for Ukraine, which ultimately might be within the pursuits of the British folks.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
14:50
Why is Trump dumping Zelenskyy?
In an X put up about Sir Keir’s name to Mr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian chief mentioned: “The United Kingdom’s role in fortifying Europe’s defence and security is important for us.”
The “UK’s support matters indeed, and we will never forget the respect the British people have shown for Ukraine and our citizens”, he added.
Western officers have signalled the UK and different European international locations may deploy beneath 30,000 personnel to Ukrainian cities, ports and nuclear energy vegetation as a part of a peacekeeping deal.
Former head of the British Military, Lord Dannatt, has mentioned about 100,000 troops could be wanted.
However she mentioned he had made “some very significant points consistently” about Europe “stepping up when it comes to defence spending”.
Dame Priti added: “We should now look to show some leadership when it comes to defence spending, corralling our European allies, NATO, leading NATO to basically say to our NATO allies as well in Europe, this is our moment again, yes, to continue the support towards the people of Ukraine, President Zelenskyy, in this conflict, but also step up on that entire agenda of military security and defence.”
