Ukraine-Russia latest: Starmer shifts stance on peace talks after largest Russian advance in over two years
Sir Keir Starmer has backed Ukraine’s need to emerge in “strongest possible position for negotiations” on peace talks to end the Russian invasion.
In his first remarks on the situation, the British PM conceded in the clearest terms there could be a negotiated end to the war and said, “We must continue to back Ukraine and do what it takes to support their self-defence for as long as it takes.”
“To put Ukraine in the strongest possible position for negotiations so they can secure a just and lasting peace on their terms that guarantees their security, independence – and right to choose their own future,” Sir Starmer said in the first signs of accepting peace talks to end Vladimir Putin’s nearly three-year-old war in Europe.
It comes as Volodymyr Zelensky revealed North Korean soldiers deployed to fight for Russia have been killed. Pyongyang is said to have dispatched between 10,000-12,000 troops to aid Putin’s forces.
A Ukrainian military intelligence spokesperson told Radio Free Europe an additional 2,000 North Korean troops have been assigned to Russia’s Marine and airborne units fighting on the front.
