Starmer says 'US security guarantee' only path to peace in Ukraine ahead of Trump meeting next week

good evening I want to thank president macron for convening us this evening at stake is not just the future of Ukraine it is an existential question for Europe as a whole and therefore vital for Britain's National interest this is a once in a generation moment for the collective security of our continent only a lasting peace in Ukraine that safeguards it sovereignty will deter Putin from further aggression in the future now recent statements by the US Administration should not come as a surprise president Trump has long expressed the wish for Europe to step up and meet

the demands of its own security that he wants to get a lasting peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine so today's inform meeting of European leaders was a vital first step in responding to that challenge on defense it's clear the US is not going to leave NATO but we Europeans will have to do more the issue of Burden sharing is not new but it is now pressing and Europeans will have to step up both in terms of spending and the capabilities that we provide on Ukraine we're at the very early stage of the process

Europe must play its role and I'm prepared to consider committing British forces on the ground alongside others if there is a lasting peace agreement but the must be a us back stop because a US security guarantee is the only way to effectively deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again so I will go to Washington next week to meet president Trump and to discuss what we see as the key elements of a lasting peace I spoke to president zalinski on Friday and we'll do so again in coming days and we envisage a further meeting with European colleagues

when I return from the Us in this moment we have to recognize the new era that we are in not cling hopelessly to the Comforts of the past it's time for us to take responsibility for our security for our continent and I've been clear today Britain will take a leading responsibility as we always have because Ukraine must have a secure future Europe must must have a secure future Britain must have a secure future and Democratic Values must Prevail thank you I'll now take a question I think first from sky and then to Reuters Skye prime

minister by unilaterally starting talks with Russia has the United States undermined the UK Europe and Ukraine what the United States wants is lasting peace that's what Ukraine wants that's what the United Kingdom wants and that's what European allies want what is important is that we ensure that Ukraine is in the strongest possible position um if we're to go into talks or if the fighting is to continue um and to ensure that if there's discussion about any guarantees that are be provided that the Eur European nations show willing as I have done but also absolutely clear

that it must be with a us back stop because I don't believe it'll be a guarantee if there isn't the us back stop uh behind those security guarantees thank you what sort of future do you see for any Ukraine peace de deal if the United States will not guarantee to put troops on the ground well look we're at a very early stage uh of the uh discussion at the moment um the war is going on and the quickest way to end the war is of course for Russia to cease its aggression so this is the

very early stages um I do think that U it's right that European nations including the UK um show a willingness to do more in our own Collective self-defense this is a generational moment for that reason this is not a new issue it's an issue we've talked about many many times about the need for Europeans to step up up this is the moment to do so um including if necessary security guarantees but they must be part of a package with us backing because otherwise uh I don't think they will operate effectively as guarantees because they won't

be an effective deterrence and that's why I'm so clear on this point that's what we want to talk to um our colleagues about in Europe that's what I've been talking to president zinsky about of course that'll inform my discussions with President Trump but we're all aligned on what we want to achieve here which is lasting peace uh not a ceasefire that allows Putin uh to come back again but lasting peace and I think um that's where there's um Real Alignment um and what we're now doing is discussing how we take that forward