British PM Starmer warns of Putin's threat to Ukraine security
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed distrust towards Vladimir Putin, fearing that he is aiming to weaken Ukraine, which could enable another invasion. "I don't want to veer into scaremongering, [but] we need to think about defense and security in a more immediate way," he emphasized.
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, highlighted his concerns about Vladimir Putin's actions in an interview with the "New York Times." Starmer does not trust the Russian president, fearing that his goal is to render Ukraine defenceless, which could lead to another invasion.
"I don't trust Putin." British Prime Minister speaks directly about Putin
Starmer noted that for over three years, since Russian tanks crossed the Ukrainian border, the situation was foreseen. The Prime Minister called for taking initiative in the face of growing tensions within NATO. He emphasized that London should not choose between the US and Europe, as that would be a "big mistake."
"I don’t trust Putin. I’m sure Putin would try to insist that Ukraine should be defenceless after a deal because that gives him what he wants, which is the opportunity to go in again," Starmer stressed.
Keir Starmer agreed with the US President, Donald Trump, that European countries should be more engaged in the collective defence of the continent. "We’ve all enjoyed the peace dividend," he noted, adding that Europe is heading towards "darker era." "I don't want to veer into scaremongering, [but] we need to think about defense and security in a more immediate way," he stressed.
The British Prime Minister admitted that on a personal level, he has a good relationship with Donald Trump. "I like and respect him. I understand what he’s trying to achieve," Starmer said.
Keir Starmer also referred to the situation on February 28, when there was a dispute between the US and Ukrainian presidents, Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky. The British Prime Minister decided to talk to both sides instead of publicly criticizing the conflict.
"I took the view that it was better to pick up the phone and talk to both sides to try and get them back on the same page," he presented his point of view.
