UK will not be derailed by Ukraine US support freeze, says Angela Rayner

Sir Keir Starmer won’t be “derailed” in working to finish the warfare in Ukraine after the US paused navy support to the nation, the deputy prime minister has stated.

Angela Rayner stated the prime minister was “laser focussed on getting peace” and would proceed “dialogue” with each President Donald Trump and Europe.

She stated this was “a really critical second” within the warfare and pressured the UK, together with its European allies, had been centered on supporting Ukraine.

The US president made the choice to freeze US navy help for Ukraine on Monday, after a gathering with members of his high group.

The US is by far the most important particular person donor of navy support to Ukraine, offering weapons, tools and monetary help.

Between the beginning of 2022 and the top of 2024, it gave $69bn (£54.6bn) in navy support, in keeping with German assume tank the Kiel Institute.

The choice got here hours after Trump criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for saying the top of the warfare with Russia is “very, very distant”.

The pair had an explosive spat within the Oval Workplace final Friday, with Zelensky leaving the White Home earlier than a proposed deal on sharing Ukrainian minerals with American corporations could possibly be signed.

On Monday, the White Home introduced it was “reviewing” the supply of ammunition and different tools to Ukraine to “be certain that it’s contributing to an answer”.

The order to pause all present American navy support to Ukraine takes impact instantly, and consists of all US navy tools not presently in Ukraine, together with weapons in transit and at depots in Poland.

The pause will have an effect on greater than $1bn (£790m) in arms and ammunition, together with rockets, anti-tank weapons, and armoured automobiles of the sort Ukraine has relied on in its effort to repel Russian forces.

The pause in support will heap extra strain on Zelensky to signal the minerals deal and conform to peace talks with out the US safety ensures he has been searching for.

In an interview with Fox Information, Vice-President JD Vance stated the door was open for Ukraine to return to negotiations if Zelensky was “prepared to noticeably speak peace”.

Reacting to the choice, Rayner advised the NEWSTORN the Trump administration needed Europe to step up and had been clear about its intentions to finish the warfare in Ukraine.

Rayner stated the prime minister was additionally “laser-focused on getting peace”.

“He will not be derailed by bulletins,” Rayner advised Radio 4’s In the present day programme.

“He’ll proceed that dialogue with our oldest and strongest ally, the US, and with European companions and with Ukraine.”

Conservative chief Kemi Badenoch stated the UK and Europe should “rearm quicker” following the US announcement.

She stated: “The information in a single day that America is halting navy support to Ukraine is profoundly worrying.”

Reform UK chief Nigel Farage stated the pause in support between the US and Ukraine solely helped Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He posted: “I hope that Keir Starmer can use his new position to convey the 2 collectively and shortly.”

Final week, Sir Keir met Trump on the White Home, because the prime minister tried the form the American method to ending the warfare in Ukraine.

Over the weekend, Sir Keir hosted a summit of western leaders, as they scramble to form peace negotiations and clean over fractured relations between Trump and Zelensky.

The UK and France are taking a number one position and have each dedicated to ship troopers to Ukraine, beneath one proposal.

However other than growing spending on defence, there seems to be no consensus on a plan to finish the warfare amongst European leaders.

On Tuesday, European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen introduced a five-part plan to mobilise some €800bn (£660m) for Europe’s defence and assist present “fast” navy help for Ukraine.

“This can be a second for Europe, and we’re able to step up,” von der Leyen stated.

A UK authorities spokesperson stated: “We stay completely dedicated to securing a long-lasting peace in Ukraine and are participating with key allies in help of this effort.

“It’s the proper factor to do, and is in our curiosity to take action.”