Keir Starmer says Europe's security 'starts in Ukraine'

Sir Keir Starmer tonight declared that Europe's security 'starts in Ukraine' after he and fellow leaders agreed to further support for Kyiv.

The Prime Minister pledged to stand with Ukraine 'for as long as it takes' as the country continues to battle against Russia's invasion.

He made the comments at the end of today's European Political Community summit, which the Labour premier hosted at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire.

Sir Keir also revealed the 46 European leaders who attended the summit, including Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, agreed to a crackdown on Russia's 'shadow fleet'.

These are the oil tankers that Russia uses to get around international sanctions and are often ageing vessels based and insured outside the West.

Speaking at a press conference this evening, Sir Keir said he and other attendees at the EPC summit had 'discussed once again our commitment to stand with Ukraine'.

The PM revealed this included 'supporting their energy needs ahead of winter and cracking down on the ships that are helping Russia to evade sanctions'.

'We need to be clear that Ukraine is fighting not just for the Ukrainian people - and of course it is - but for the European people,' he added.

'For freedom, democracy and the rule of law. Our security therefore starts in Ukraine.

'So we pledged to President Zelenskyy, once again, that we will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

'We also had productive discussions on wider European security. Defending our democracies against Russian interference.

'And supporting countries like Moldova who are dealing with more direct threats.'

Sir Keir vowed that, under Labour, Britain would 'reach out a hand to our European friends' and 'deepen our cooperation on defence and security'.

'It's not just a good idea to work with our partners, it's essential,' he said.

During the press conference, Sir Keir was asked about the risk to support for Ukraine should Donald Trump and his newly-announced running mate, JD Vance, win the US presidential election in November.

Mr Vance, a self-proclaimed 'hillbilly', is an opponent of US military aid for Ukraine and has said Kyiv has no chance of regaining all the territory Russia has taken since it launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The PM said he would not 'pre-empt what may or may not happen later this year in relation to the election in America'.

'Those elections will take place, it will be for the American people to decide who they want to elect into office,' he added.

'And we will work with whoever is elected into office, as you would expect.'

Earlier today, Defence Secretary John Healey pledged to 'take the politics out of national security' as he told MPs Russia is 'far from a spent force' in Ukraine.

'The UK is united for Ukraine,' Mr Healey said, as he introduced a debate on the King's Speech in the House of Commons.

'I want to work together to ensure we remain united for Ukraine and the Government is now stepping up support, so with President Zelensky I was able to say, 'we will speed up the delivery of the military aid already pledged.

'We will step up support with a new package of more ammunition, more anti-armour missiles, more de-mining vehicles, and also more artillery guns.''

Earlier in his remarks, Mr Healey said: 'As Defence Secretary, I want to take the politics out of national security.'

He warned 'Russia is far from a spent force, and if Putin wins, he will not stop at Ukraine'.