Starmer: Europe is united in support of Ukraine

British Prime Minister Kerry Starmer said on Thursday at a press conference following a meeting of the European allies in Paris that “this was a very constructive meeting.”

“There was a complete agreement that was not the time of lifting sanctions against Russia,” he said, “it was clear that Russia was trying to postpone peace and that we should be completely transparent.”

The meeting also discussed the country’s “military and operational” programs to support any ceasefire and peace in Ukraine, “whether on land, in the air or in the sea.” “What came out of the summit was that many countries have stood, as they have been standing with Ukraine for more than three years until it lasts,” he said.

Starmer said that “Russia has set new conditions and delays at the Black Sea initiative,” said Starmer, claiming that “more than two weeks since Ukraine agreed to the six -day immediate ceasefire, but the proposal was still unaware of Ukraine’s bombing.”

“We have agreed here in Paris today that it is clear that the Russians are playing,” he said. “This is a classic book from Putin’s game book, but we can’t allow them to extend it as they continue their illegal invasion.”

Starmer, relying on what French President Emmanuel Macron said about sending troops to Ukraine, confirmed that the British Secretary of Defense will chair the new Ukrainian Defense Contact Group on April 7 to “provide more military aid and keep Ukraine in the battle.”

“It is Europe that is mobilized behind the peace process that we have not witnessed for decades, and this is with the support of our partners from all over the world,” he said. We are determined to bring a fair and sustainable peace because we know that this peace is vital to Ukraine and Europe as a whole, and I am clear that it is vital to Britain. “

“I don’t want to make a difficult deadline, but we have to see that these are developing in days and weeks, not months and months, and we have to go to space,” said Starmer about what he sees as the deadline. Focusing on continuing to apply more pressure on Russia to reach the table is to negotiate, and it is really clear that they are torture, they delay, we’ve seen this game before. The key task will be to prepare for a more precise peace agreement. “

Starmer also questioned whether “pressure for the ceasefire is realistic or the focus should be on putting Ukraine in a position that enables them to advance to Russia”, he said, “US President Donald Trump” was “quite clear” that it would be a matter of sustainable peace in Ukraine. Why does it continue as transactions were not made in the past. “

He also emphasized the importance of political leadership and said, “If we can provide leadership with the support of operational programs, in my opinion, this is the best chance of achieving the result we all want.”

Starmer called Trump’s tariffs “very worrying” but said he needed a practical response.

He added: “As you know, we are discussing intense talks with the United States about economic arrangements, on a number of fronts, including to reduce tariffs, and we will continue in the same way, because I think it is better instead of a business war, if we can, in a practical way, in a deal to deal with it.

Starmer emphasized: European -led force has been designed to prevent and send a message to Putin, which will defend the agreement. He added: “A number of countries” have called on Britain and France to play the role of leadership because they focus on “advancing these efforts and the next stages.”

Responding to a question about the details of any future force that could be deployed in Ukraine, he said that the force would be built on the basis of the Ukrainian army’s power with “designed for deterrence, to send this message to Putin that this is an agreement that is to be defended”.

Starmer emphasized that parliament should confirm the establishment of British forces in Ukraine.

He also denied Russia’s criticism and said Russia could not guide Europeans in what they want. He also responds to whether his plans to deploy support forces in Ukraine need to vote in parliament, “We are not at that stage.” We are in the process of turning political acceleration into operational programs, examining different options, and then going to the next tasks with the defense chiefs. But you know my long -standing position is that if we are deployed in any scenario for a long time, parliament must have been in this regard.

Starmer was also asked about the outlook of a Defense and Security Treaty of the European Union and the United Kingdom, which was reportedly delayed due to disagreement on fishing issues. He joked that “he starts talking about the fish” because “I don’t think the interpretation of the past has helped any of these issues.”

“I think it’s fair to say that relations with our European partners are far stronger at the moment, and this is a good thing for European defense and security,” he said.

“We are committed to NATO, so we are committed to sharing,” said Starmer about the French -British nuclear deterrence and suggestions that could be shared by most European countries.

He also presented a general line that “he seems to be good for European defense and security that France and Britain work as much as they are currently working on defense and security.”

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