- 12/16/2024
Sir Keir Starmer urges Western allies to 'double-down' in support of UkrainePA
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00:00But here we are, in a very difficult situation.
00:04We're now past the thousandth day of the conflict in Ukraine,
00:09and it's at a very pivotal moment.
00:13The first thing I should say, because people often ask,
00:16well, surely the conflict should end?
00:20And my first answer to that is yes, of course.
00:25And the quickest and easiest way for it to end
00:28is for the aggressor to pull back, Russia to pull back.
00:33And the unanimous view was that NATO is stronger now
00:39than it's been for a number of years.
00:42As to what happens next, there's a lot of discussion
00:45as to whether or not there may or may not be negotiations.
00:49And none of us quite know the answer to that question.
00:53But what I think is really important is that we double down
00:59and remain steadfast in our support for Ukraine.
01:03Because whether there's negotiations or not,
01:07it is extremely important Ukraine is put in the strongest possible position.
01:11And to be put in the strongest possible position,
01:13that means we, allies, have to stay united in our support for Ukraine,
01:21notwithstanding that it's been going on for some time now,
01:24united and giving more by way of support,
01:28whether that's more capability,
01:30whether that's doubling down on the funding that has been provided,
01:36and at the same time more effective and stringent sanctions on Russia,
01:40which is having an effect on their economy,
01:43and ensuring that we put in some of the backup with training, et cetera,
01:48which, along with our allied countries,
01:51we've been providing in relation to Ukraine.
01:55So we have to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position,
01:58whether or not there are negotiations.
02:01It matters not just to Ukrainian sovereignty.
02:04It matters to the whole of Europe.
02:07It matters to our values.