Sir Keir Starmer is set to defy Donald Trump with a new aid plan for a fresh Ukraine, just hours after the US President accused him of “doing nothing” in the conflict.
Starmer will reportedly reveal the “triple whammy” of measures on February 24, the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Earlier this week, Trump branded Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a dictator and put pressure on him to back down and end the war.
He then said yesterday of Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron: “They didn’t do anything either [to end the war].
“The war’s going on, no meetings with Russia, no nothing. Macron is a friend of mine, and I’ve met with the Prime Minister, he’s a very nice guy… [but] nobody’s done anything.”
US President Donald Trump accused Starmer of “doing nothing”
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Trump’s remarks come amid growing tensions between the US and Europe over how to put an end to war in Ukraine.
In a shocking move, the US also indicated it could leave an international effort to prosecute Russia for war crimes.
At a meeting of a “core group” of countries preparing for a Nuremberg-style tribunal to try Russian President Vladimir Putin, US envoys refused to label Russia an “aggressor”, The Telegraph has reported.
Trump’s administration is also refusing to co-sponsor a United Nations statement that supports Ukraine’s territorial integrity, demanding Moscow withdraw its forces from Ukraine.
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In an attempt to convince Trump to soften his approach, Starmer and Macron will travel to Washington to meet with the US President.
The PM will also deliver an invitation from the King, offering a state visit to the UK, making Trump the first elected leader in modern history to receive the invite twice.
Although Starmer’s support package risks angering the White House, one senior Government source defended the move, saying: “We have always said we want to put Ukraine in the strongest position, whether that’s for going into talks or for the continuation of fighting.”
“We still don’t know which of those positions we’re going to be in. It’s right that we continue to support Ukraine in all the ways that we have long said we will.”
A package of measures, including military aid and sanctions, is being drawn up in Whitehall to show Britain’s support for Ukraine.
The MoD is set to announce the details of this military aid, which may include extra weapons for Ukraine, but that is yet to be signed off.
The Foreign Office will also reveal a set of sanctions against Russia, and crackdown on Russian “dirty money”, targeting Oligarchs supporting Putin.
Whitehall sources have called the measures a “full triple whammy”, put in place to underline the UK’s backing for Kyiv.
Trump’s remarks come amid growing tensions between the US and Europe over how to put an end to war in Ukraine
GETTY
On Monday, Defence Secretary John Healey will explain the extra aid, and Foreign Secretary David Lammy is expected to address the Commons.
Starmer is understood to be close to revealing the announcement of when he will increase UK defence spending from 2.3 per cent of GDP to 2.5 per cent.
The PM is expected to announce the date during his visit to the US, in a move to show Trump that Downing Street is acting on his demand for increased defence spending from European nations.
