Blitz Bureau
BRITISH Prime Minister Keir Starmer reiterated the UK’s “ironclad support” for Kyiv when he spoke to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on February 22, reports BBC.
The two leaders held their second telephone conversation in four days following US President Donald Trump’s decision to re-open relations with Russia and seek an end to the war in Ukraine.
Starmer said he will discuss the importance of Ukraine’s sovereignty in talks with Trump next week, February 24 marks three years since Vladimir Putin’s invasion, which UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said he will mark with further sanctions on Russia.
According to a Downing Street spokesperson, Starmer also said “Ukraine must be at the heart of any negotiations to end the war” and it could be sure of “the UK’s commitment to securing a just and enduring peace to bring an end to Russia’s illegal war”.
Giving details about the phone call, Downing Street said Starmer and Zelensky “agreed that this was a significant moment for the future of Ukraine and European security at large”. Starmer also told Zelensky “that safeguarding Ukraine’s sovereignty was essential to deter future aggression from Russia”.
The Prime Minister added, “He would be progressing these important discussions in the coming days and weeks, including with Trump whilst visiting Washington DC next week”. Zelensky said he had a productive talk with Starmer, with the pair coordinating “our military cooperation, joint steps, and engagements for the coming week, which will be very active”. In a post on X, he wrote: “The UK and its people are among Ukraine’s biggest supporters, and we deeply appreciate this.”
