Keir Starmer is set to join a European crisis summit to face down the threat of Russia after the US barred European leaders from peace talks with Vladimir Putin over the Ukraine war.
France is preparing to host the last-minute, informal meeting with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte following comments by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky that the continent should form an “army of Europe” as it could not rely on the US for defence.
Sir Keir said: “This is a once in a generation moment for our national security where we engage with the reality of the world today and the threat we face from Russia.”
“It’s clear Europe must take on a greater role in NATO as we work with the United Sates to secure Ukraine’s future and face down the threat we face from Russia.
“The UK will work to ensure we keep the US and Europe together. We cannot allow any divisions in the alliance to distract from the external enemies we face.”
Sir Keir will take the messages from this meeting on the way forward on Ukraine to Washington DC the following week to discuss at his meeting with president Donald Trump.
The prime minister spoke to Mr Zelensky on Friday morning and discussed the importance of a US security guarantee to ensure that Putin does not attack Ukraine again once peace is reached.