UK’s Starmer: Ukraine war the most critical issue of our age

LONDON — Keir Starmer has offered fresh support for Kyiv on the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Britain announced Tuesday it will provide £20 million for emergency repairs to energy supplies damaged by Russian attacks over the winter, as well as help to resist so-called “Russification” tactics, and helicopter training for Ukrainian pilots in the U.K. 

The announcement comes ahead of a a virtual “coalition of the willing” meeting of Ukraine’s allies Tuesday —  the first since Britain and France signed a declaration to send troops to Ukraine if a peace deal is agreed.

Starmer will co-chair the meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss plans in the event of a ceasefire.

“This war remains the most critical issue of our age. It asks the question of whether Ukrainian and European freedom will endure. Our answer, together, is unequivocal. Russia is not winning this war. They will not win this war,” Starmer said in a statement announcing the extra support.

The British government said preparations for the peacekeeping effort — known as Multinational Force Ukraine — are being overseen from its headquarters in Paris, now staffed by 70 personnel.

The latest show of support takes place amid stalled peace negotiations, as recent talks in Geneva yielded little progress on the key questions of halting hostilities, prisoner of war exchanges or a pause in strikes on energy infrastructure.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the BBC in an interview to mark the anniversary he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin has already started a third world war. “The question is how much territory he will be able to seize and how to stop him,” he said.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will visit Kyiv Tuesday. She is expected to condemn the attempted “Russification” of Ukrainians in occupied territories via the imposition of Russian passports and banning the Ukrainian language.

Russia is facing economic hardship and issues with army recruitment, according to Western officials, who said the prospect of a summer offensive will depend on whether they are able to find enough manpower.

Nonetheless, the same officials said there is no imminent prospect of Moscow seeking an end to the war as Kyiv also experiences a strain on infantry and ammunition.

Speaking to reporters, Defence Minister Al Carns stressed there is an active threat to the U.K. from Russia, particularly through cyber attacks.

“A lot of people say that the U.K. doesn’t have a front line, but the reality is we do. It sits in the north Atlantic. It sits in the High North. It sits in cyberspace, and it sits in influence. It is being battled out every day,” he said.

“The defense industry across the whole of Europe is starting to pick up pace” in order to boost supply chains and the delivery of weapons to Ukraine, despite internal struggles in London over the pace of defense spending, Carns added.