The prime minister has spoken of a “once in a generation moment” for the UK, US and Europe to work together and warned against NATO “divisions” – as two senior American officials head to Saudi Arabia for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
Sir Keir Starmer said the UK will “work to ensure we keep the US and Europe together” amid the threat faced from Russia.
His comments came after the Ukrainian president cautioned: “The old days are over when America supported Europe just because it always had.”
Earlier on Saturday, US officials confirmed Europe would not be involved in the upcoming peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
Analysis: Peace talks risk short-term win that rewards Putin
Washington also sent a questionnaire to European capitals to ask what they could contribute to security guarantees for Kyiv.
“It’s clear Europe must take on a greater role in NATO,” said Sir Keir on Saturday night.
“We cannot allow any divisions in the alliance to distract from the external enemies we face.”
The French president is thought to be convening crisis talks between European leaders and NATO, which the prime minister will attend.
Sir Keir will then take messages from that meeting to Washington DC when he meets US President Donald Trump the week after, according to Downing Street sources.
During a talk at a security conference in Munich, Poland’s foreign minister Radosław Sikorski said he was “very glad that President Macron has called our leaders to Paris” to discuss “in a very serious fashion” the challenges posed by Mr Trump.
Meanwhile, US national security adviser Mike…
