Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has stated that the Ukraine war is the "frontline" for Britain’s national security, as US and Russian officials meet today in Saudi Arabia for peace talks.
Starmer’s comments come ahead of an emergency summit in Paris after Europe was blocked out of the Saudi Arabia meeting.
Speaking ahead of the summit, Starmer said: "I think there’s a bigger piece here as well, which is that this isn’t just about the frontline in Ukraine.
"It’s the frontline of Europe and of the United Kingdom. It’s our national security."
He stressed that the continent is facing a "generational challenge" over defence, adding that "we must continue to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position."
The Prime minister said that Europe needs to "make sure that if there is peace - and we all want peace - that it is lasting."
He called on European leaders to "step up", adding that it is vital to have “realistic and credible answers”.
This comes after the Starmer’s announcement that he is "ready" and "willing" to deploy British troops to Ukraine if a peace deal is reached, pledging £3bn annually in military aid until 2030.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed today that “tens of thousands” of Ukrainian troops were missing in action or being held in Russian captivity as Vladimir Putin’s war approaches its three-year anniversary.
Morre then 46,000 soldiers have been killed so far, Zelensky said, although his figures differ from some estimates by Kyiv’s allies.
US Secretary of State Marco arrived in Saudi Arabia today, with peace talks expected to commence tomorrow.
Starmer has appeared to express discontent at Europe’s exclusion from the peace process
Writing in The Telegraph, Starmer stressed that "any role in helping to guarantee Ukraine’s security is helping to guarantee the security of our continent, and the security of this country."
He wrote: "We have got to show we are truly serious about our own defence and bearing our own burden. We have talked about it for too long – and President Trump is right to demand that we get on with it.
"As European nations, we must increase our defence spending and take on a greater role in NATO. Non-US NATO nations have already increased defence spending by 20 per cent in the past year, but we must go further."
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will also not take part in peace talks this week, despite also travelling to Saudi Arabia, according to reports.
The Ukrainian leader’s spokesman told AFP he will arrive one day after Russian and US officials meet.
Sergiy Nykyforov said Zelensky is visiting the country as part of a "long-planned" official visit.
Zelensky was in the United Arab Emirates arrived in the United Arab Emirates late on Sunday ahead of the US-Russia negotiations.
Mykhailo Podolyak, a top adviser to Zelensky, has publicly dismissed the idea of Ukraine engaging in the Saudi Arabia negotiations, saying, "There is nothing on the negotiating table that would be worth discussing."
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