Ukraine’s ambassador Yevheniia Filipenko, who at one point became emotional while addressing the room, asked countries to continue their support for rebuilding Ukraine and seeking accountability for crimes committed since Russia’s invasion.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Kyiv on January 16.Credit: Getty Images
“The road ahead is very challenging but when we are united we can prevail,” she said.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Tuesday he would increase annual defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027 and target a 3 per cent level last seen just after the Cold War, a signal to U.S. President Donald Trump that Britain can boost Europe’s security.
On the eve of his departure to meet Trump in Washington, Starmer told parliament he was bringing the increase in defence spending forward to offer Europe more support as the US spearheads peace talks with Russia over its war in Ukraine.
With public spending already stretched in Britain, Starmer said the increase from its current 2.3 per cent would be fully paid for by a 40 per cent cut to international aid, an announcement he said he was not happy to make but one which was necessary to offer Ukraine and Europe support in a “new era”.
Since Trump seemingly abandoned the United States’ more Ukraine-friendly approach to Russia’s war, blindsiding much of Europe, Starmer and other European leaders have stepped up diplomatic efforts to show a united front to support Kyiv.
“Starting today, I can announce this government will begin the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War,” Starmer said, adding that combined with spending on intelligence services it would reach 2.6 per cent from 2027.
“We must go further still. I have long argued that … all European allies must step up and do more for our own defence,” he said. He added that Britain would set a target for spending 3 per cent of gross domestic product in the next parliament, which will convene after a national election due in 2029.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth welcomed the spending rise after speaking to British defence minister John Healey.
