Sir Keir Starmer reiterates that he is “prepared to consider committing British forces on the ground” in Ukraine “if there is a lasting peace agreement”. The prime minister adds: “There must be a US backstop because a US security guarantee is the only way to effectively deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again”. Report by Jonesia. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
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00:00I want to thank President Macron for convening us this evening.
00:05At stake is not just the future of Ukraine, it is an existential question for Europe as
00:12a whole, and therefore vital for Britain's national interest.
00:18This is a once-in-a-generation moment for the collective security of our continent.
00:25Only a lasting peace in Ukraine that safeguards its sovereignty will deter Putin from further
00:31aggression in the future.
00:35Recent statements by the US administration should not come as a surprise.
00:43President Trump has long expressed the wish for Europe to step up and meet the demands
00:48of its own security, and that he wants to get a lasting peace agreement to end the war
00:55in Ukraine.
00:57So today's informal meeting of European leaders was a vital first step in responding to that
01:04challenge.
01:07On defence, it's clear the US is not going to leave NATO.
01:14But we Europeans will have to do more.
01:18The issue of burden-sharing is not new, but it is now pressing, and Europeans will have
01:25to step up, both in terms of spending and the capabilities that we provide.
01:33On Ukraine, we're at the very early stage of the process.
01:39Europe must play its role, and I'm prepared to consider committing British forces on the
01:44ground alongside others if there is a lasting peace agreement.
01:51But there must be a US backstop, because a US security guarantee is the only way to effectively
02:01deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again.
02:06So I will go to Washington next week to meet President Trump and to discuss what we see
02:13as the key elements of a lasting peace.
02:18I spoke to President Zelensky on Friday, and will do so again in coming days.
02:24And we envisage a further meeting with European colleagues when I return from the US.
02:31In this moment, we have to recognise the new era that we are in, not cling hopelessly to
02:37the comforts of the past.
02:40It's time for us to take responsibility for our security, for our continent, and I've
02:46been clear today, Britain will take a leading responsibility, as we always have, because
02:54Ukraine must have a secure future, Europe must have a secure future, Britain must have
03:01a secure future, and democratic values must prevail.