Keir Starmer has heightened tensions ahead of a pivotal meeting in Washington with US President Donald Trump this week by emphasizing that Ukraine must be “at the heart of any negotiations” regarding a peace deal with Russia.
During a phone call on Saturday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the UK prime minister reinforced his stance, stating that “safeguarding Ukraine’s sovereignty was essential to deter future aggression from Russia.” His comments directly contradict Trump’s recent remarks on the matter.
Downing Street has made it clear that Starmer will maintain this firm position when he meets with Trump at the White House on Thursday.
As part of the discussions, Starmer is expected to announce that the UK will increase its defense spending to 2.5% of GDP, aligning with Labour’s election manifesto commitment. Additionally, he is likely to extend an invitation to Trump from King Charles for a second state visit to the UK.
However, the meeting is anticipated to be the biggest diplomatic challenge of Starmer’s tenure so far. He will need to balance maintaining good relations with Trump while firmly asserting the UK and Europe’s positions on Ukraine and Russia.
In a further demonstration of the UK government’s commitment, it will unveil its most extensive sanctions package against Moscow since the war began.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who may accompany Starmer to Washington and attend the meeting with Trump, outlined the government’s approach: “On the battlefield, we remain committed to providing £3bn of military support a year to put Ukraine in the strongest position possible, and being ready and willing to provide UK troops as part of peacekeeping forces if necessary.”
“Off the battlefield, we will work with the US and European partners to achieve a sustainable, just peace, and in doing so, remaining clear that there can be nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.
“This is also the time to turn the screws on Putin’s Russia.”
European Coordination
Starmer is expected to coordinate with French President Emmanuel Macron before their respective meetings with Trump. The goal is to establish a unified European stance on Trump’s push for a resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Additionally, on Saturday, Starmer spoke with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, where they agreed on the need for Europe to “step up” in ensuring Ukraine’s security.
A Defining Meeting
Starmer’s upcoming meeting with Trump is regarded in Westminster as potentially career-defining. Former UK Foreign Secretary William Hague has described it as the most significant first bilateral meeting between a UK prime minister and a US president since World War II.
Trump’s administration has made a series of controversial statements in recent weeks. On Friday, Trump dismissed Zelenskyy’s significance in peace negotiations, stating: “I don’t think he’s very important to be at meetings, to be honest with you. When Zelenskyy said: ‘Oh, he wasn’t invited to a meeting,’ I mean, it wasn’t a priority because he did such a bad job in negotiating so far.”
Keir and Zelensky
Beyond these remarks, Trump’s administration has been pressuring Ukraine to sign a $500bn minerals deal, granting the US control over half of Ukraine’s mineral resources. The White House claims this demand is “payback” for previous US military assistance.
Zelenskyy has so far refused to sign, citing the absence of concrete US security guarantees.
Threats Over Starlink
Reuters has reported that the US is also threatening to cut off Ukraine’s access to Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet system unless Zelenskyy agrees to the Trump administration’s demands.
Ukrainian officials have called the threat “blackmail,” warning that losing access to Starlink would have devastating consequences for their military operations. The system is critical for providing real-time video drone surveillance and executing precision strikes against Russian forces.
The US envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, reportedly raised the possibility of a Starlink shutdown during discussions with Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Thursday. Facing mounting pressure, Zelenskyy has expressed a willingness to negotiate but insists he cannot “sell out” his country.
Ukraine is now scrambling to find alternative solutions should the US follow through on its threat. The country’s military heavily relies on Starlink for communication, battlefield coordination, and naval drone operations in the Black Sea.
Adding to concerns, reports indicate that Russian forces are also using Starlink. Ukrainian commanders fear a worst-case scenario in which SpaceX disables Ukrainian access while continuing to provide services to Russian troops—effectively aiding Moscow’s war effort.
A senior Ukrainian official stressed that the country’s military depends on American satellite intelligence data. If intelligence-sharing were cut off, Ukraine’s ability to carry out successful long-range strikes deep into Russian territory would be severely hindered.
When asked if the US threat to shut down Starlink amounted to blackmail, the official responded: “Yes. If it happens, it’s going to be pretty bad. Of that we can be sure.”
Trump’s Shifting Stance
On Friday, Trump attempted to soften some of his earlier rhetoric. He falsely claimed that Zelenskyy was deeply unpopular, citing an approval rating of “4%.” However, recent polling contradicts this, showing that 63% of Ukrainians support Zelenskyy.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump acknowledged that Russia did invade Ukraine but blamed Zelenskyy and former US President Joe Biden for failing to prevent it. “They shouldn’t have let him [Putin] attack,” Trump stated.
Public and Political Reactions
Trump’s remarks have galvanized support for Zelenskyy in Ukraine. Meanwhile, poll found that 56% of UK voters disapprove of how Trump’s administration is handling Ukraine, compared to just 17% who approve.
In the UK, 55% of people believe the country will likely be involved in a large military conflict within the next five years, while only 20% consider it unlikely. Additionally, 60% of respondents support increasing defense spending.
