Keir Starmer meets with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky as he vows Britain having a new PM means 'no change' in UK support for Kyiv... but Labour premier faces major row over defence spending at NATO summit in Washington DC
Sir Keir Starmer greeted Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky with a hug today as he stressed Britain having a new Government meant 'no change' in UK support for Kyiv.
The PM, making his debut on the world stage at the NATO summit in Washington DC, told the Ukrainian President there would be 'no change of approach'.
'As you know from the get go... there's a change of government but no change of approach,' Sir Keir said, as he met Mr Zelensky on the sidelines of the summit.
The PM said this week's Russian attack on a children's hospital in Kyiv was 'just shocking' during the meeting.
Defence Secretary John Healey and Foreign Secretary David Lammy joined the Prime Minister with officials and the Ukrainian delegation around a table.
'Thank you again that you are with us from the very beginning of the war,' Mr Zelensky said, as he thanked Sir Keir for his words.
Speaking after the meeting, the PM said it was 'really important' for him to affirm Britain's continued support for Ukraine in a face-to-face meeting with Mr Zelensky.
The two leaders had previously spoken on the phone shortly after Sir Keir was sworn in as Rishi Sunak's replacement as PM last week.
Sir Keir has entered the summit facing the first row of his premiership with questions over his pledge to raise defence spending to counter Russian aggression.
The PM is under pressure to spell out when the UK will increase its defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP, having refused to guarantee it will happen in his first term.
Sir Keir Starmer greeted Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky with a hug today as he stressed Britain having a new Government meant 'no change' in UK support for Kyiv
The PM, making his debut on the world stage at the NATO summit in Washington DC, told the Ukrainian President there would be 'no change of approach' under his Government
'As you know from the get go... there's a change of government but no change of approach,' Sir Keir said, as he met Mr Zelensky on the sidelines of the summit
Sir Keir has entered the summit facing the first row of his premiership with questions over his pledge to raise defence spending to counter Russian aggression
The PM pictured with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg as they met in Washington DC
The PM arrived in Washington today to meet US President Joe Biden and other NATO leaders at a summit to mark the alliance's 75th anniversary.
He also held talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron this afternoon, less than a week after the Labour landslide which installed him in No10.
Sir Keir told reporters in Washington DC his talks with world leaders were 'an opportunity to make sure that those relationships are reset, for me to be able to say that our position on the world stage – leading on issues like defence and security, on climate change, and on energy – are so important'.
He also said the summit was a chance 'to discuss with President Zelensky what further support he needs and to use our opportunity here with our allies to make sure that that support is agreed'.
'And to reinforce, in a sense as a message to Putin, the resolve of NATO , bigger now than it's ever been, more united than it's ever been and absolutely clear-eyed about the threat of Russian aggression,' the PM added.
But Sir Keir is under pressure to spell out when he will meet a promise to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP.
Mr Sunak set a date of 2030 for hitting the milestone under the Tories, with fears of a new conflict in Europe.
But a senior defence minister today suggested the new Labour Government may not even set a target for a year, after it has completed a review of the Armed Forces.
Tory shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge wrote to Mr Healey to ask when spending would be increased.
In his letter, Mr Cartlidge said: 'Making such a clear commitment is vital for our national security.
'Our Armed Forces need the certainty and clarity on their funding in order to plan and prepare for the future.
'It is necessary to prepare everything from accommodation and benefits for service personnel to ensuring that they are equipped with the latest capabilities, equipment and technology.'
He added that it was 'high time' the Government made its plans on defence spending clear.
The PM also held talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz this afternoon as he attended a summit to mark NATO's 75th anniversary
Sir Keir pictured during a meeting with France's Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the NATO summit
Sir Keir and his wife Victoria disembarked their plan at Joint Base Andrews in Washington DC last night
Tory shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge wrote to new Defence Secretary John Healey today to ask when spending would be increased
The Prime Minister and his wife Victoria touched down with their entourage at Joint Base Andrews in the early hours of the morning for his first foreign trip since taking office.
He will met the under-pressure US president and a host of other leaders including president Zelensky of Ukraine over the next two days in his first diplomatic blitz, accompanied by senior ministers.
The trip comes as Sir Keir presses for European nations to increase defence spending, but has refused to guarantee meeting his flagship commitment to hit 2.5 per cent of GDP within his first term in office, despite a 'cast iron' promise to get there.
The timescale will be set out after a wholesale defence review being launched next week - which may take a year - and must comply with the Government's strict 'fiscal rules' on spending and borrowing.
However sources told the Telegraph that the review could also look at increasing the size of the British Army, whose strength fell to a 200-year low under the Tories.
The summit is also an introduction for Lady Starmer to international diplomacy. She stayed largely out of the limelight during the election campaign but will take part in a series of engagements with other leaders' wives and husbands over the coming days.
Sir Keir will hold talks with Mr Biden in the White House this evening as the US President faces domestic pressures over his age and suitability to run for a second term.
The prospect of Donald Trump being returned to the White House in November's election is being viewed as cause for concern within the alliance given his past criticisms of Nato and his threats to reduce aid to Ukraine.
European Nato states face shouldering a greater burden as part of a drive to 'Trump proof' the alliance should the Republican candidate return to office and weaken US commitment to the 32-nation bloc.
Speaking to reporters, Sir Keir was repeatedly pressed on whether the goal of spending 2.5 per cent of GDP would be reached within his first term.
He said: 'We are committed to the 2.5 per cent, as I have said before the election and I say again after the election. That is obviously subject to our fiscal rules, but the commitment is there.
Sir Keir's wife Victoria Starmer at Joint Base Andrews in Washington DC last night
President Joe Biden speaks at the 75th anniversary of NATO in Washington DC last night
NATO leaders have a 'family photo' at the Andrew W Mellon Auditorium in Washington last night
Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington last night
'The strategic review will take place, that will happen next week, and we will set out the details of that.
'The manifesto commitment was that it would take place within a year, I would like it to be quicker than that if I'm honest and we'll set out the details about how we are going to do it.'
Officials have described 2.5 per cent as a 'cast iron commitment' but the announcement a strategic defence review will be launched next week did not include any timetable for ramping up spending.
Defence minister Luke Pollard told Times Radio today the Government will aim to complete the review in less than a year.
Before his election defeat, Rishi Sunak had committed to reach 2.5 per cent by 2030 at a total cost of £75billion over six years.
Nato members have an official goal of spending 2 per cent of GDP on defence and 23 members are now thought to have reached that level.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer talks to journalists on his plane to Washington DC last night
Sir Keir and his wife Victoria board a plane at London Stansted Airport yesterday
Sir Keir speaks to media at Stansted Airport yesterday before boarding
But in the context of this year's US election, Sir Keir acknowledged more needed to be done, particularly on locking in support for Ukraine and its president Volodymyr Zelensky, who is at the summit.
'On the question of how we show that commitment here at this summit, given there is going to be an election in America later this year, I think it's very important at this summit, and I think there is a real opportunity for real unity,' Sir Keir told reporters.
'It's the largest group of Nato countries, together with the additions that we've got, and the package that we are seeking to advance, it goes beyond the support that's been put in before and will be locked in - I hope - at this Nato conference.'
There would be a financial package, military aid and an industrial strategy to support Ukraine, he indicated.
Sir Keir confirmed that decisions on the use of UK-supplied long-range Storm Shadow missiles were for the Ukrainian armed forces to make, indicating they would be permitted to strike against targets within Russia.
Sir Keir in the House of Commons yesterday as Parliament returned
Sir Keir during a meeting with English regional mayors at 10 Downing Street yesterday
Sir Keir speaks to the media following his first Cabinet meeting at No10 last Saturday
The newly-elected PM speaking outside 10 Downing Street last Friday
The UK military aid was 'for defensive purposes but it is for Ukraine to decide how to deploy it for those defensive purposes'.
The Russian strike on a children's hospital in Kyiv on Monday was a 'tragic backdrop to this summit' and 'strengthens the resolve' of Nato against Vladimir Putin, he said.
Asked if it was a war crime, the Prime Minister said: 'In relation to its specific category within international law, that will be a matter for others in due course, but it is shocking and appalling and it's the duty of everyone to describe it in those terms.'
He said the summit should demonstrate to Mr Putin the 'clear and united resolve' of the alliance to 'stand with Ukraine and stand up to Russian aggression, whether in relation to Ukraine or whether elsewhere including cyber aggression and other ways in which Russia is aggressive around the world'.
