UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer offers full backing to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, assuring him of ‘full backing across the United Kingdom’ amidst escalating tensions between the US and Europe.
Sir Keir Starmer has expressed his full backing for Volodymyr Zelensky, assuring him that he has ‘full backing across the United Kingdom‘. The two leaders met in Downing Street on Saturday, amidst a backdrop of escalating tensions between the US and Europe.
Sir Keir Starmer is a British politician who serves as the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the Labour Party.
Born on September 2, 1962, in Southwark, London, he studied law at the University of Leeds and later qualified as a barrister.
Before entering politics, he worked as a human rights lawyer.
He was first elected as an MP for Holborn and St Pancras in 2015 and became Shadow Brexit Secretary in 2016.
In 2020, he succeeded Jeremy Corbyn as Labour Party leader.
The ‘Ukrainian president was visibly moved by the warm welcome he received from the UK government.’ He expressed gratitude for the country’s unwavering support since the start of the conflict. Zelensky praised the UK’s ‘tremendous‘ support, specifically highlighting the £2.26bn loan that will be used to produce weapons in Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelensky is a Ukrainian politician, actor, and comedian who served as the President of Ukraine from 2019 to present.
Born on January 25, 1978, in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, Zelensky rose to fame playing the role of a history teacher in the TV series 'Servant of the People.' He won the presidential election in 2019 with over 73% of the vote, running as an independent candidate.
Prior to his presidency, he served as the head of the Ukrainian delegation to the Eurovision Song Contest 2006.
The loan is to be repaid using profits from frozen Russian assets. This move is seen as a significant step towards holding Russia accountable for its actions. Zelensky declared, ‘This is true justice – the one who started the war must be the one to pay.’
UK’s Role in Brokering Peace
Sir Keir Starmer has been actively seeking to bridge the gap between the US and Europe as they navigate their approach to ending the war in Ukraine. He recently had a cordial meeting with Donald Trump, during which he handed over a letter from King Charles inviting Trump to a second state visit.
The UK prime minister also contacted both Trump and Zelensky by phone on Friday evening, attempting to mediate between the two leaders. The Downing Street meeting was an opportunity for Starmer to demonstrate his continued support for Zelensky following the public falling-out with Trump.
Sunday’s Summit in London
On Sunday, Sir Keir Starmer will host a summit of European and Canadian leaders in London as part of efforts to bring the Russia-Ukraine war to an end. The meeting will be attended by the leaders of France, Germany, Poland, the heads of the European Commission and European Council, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Nato‘s secretary general Mark Rutte.
A special European Commission defence package is expected to be announced on 6 March, according to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The summit will focus on increasing Europe’s defence capabilities as Washington steps back and seeking security guarantees for Ukraine from the White House as part of any peace deal.
Escalating Conflict
The Ukraine conflict is a longstanding issue, rooted in the country's complex history.
In 2014, pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted, leading to a Russian annexation of Crimea.
The conflict escalated into a full-blown war between Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed separatists in Eastern Ukraine.
According to the United Nations, over 13,000 people have been killed since 2014.
The conflict has also led to a significant displacement of people, with over 3 million internally displaced.
Diplomatic efforts have been ongoing, but a lasting resolution remains elusive.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine continues to escalate, with fighting raging on despite diplomatic efforts to bring it to a close. Seven people were injured in an overnight drone attack on the north-eastern city of Kharkiv. In Russia, the country’s defence ministry reported 48 Ukrainian drones had been ‘intercepted and destroyed‘ overnight.
The UK’s support for Ukraine is a crucial aspect of the ongoing efforts to bring peace to the region. With tensions between the US and Europe at an all-time high, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold in the coming days.
