British PM Starmer urges Trump to stand with Ukraine

The United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer is urging President-elect Trump to stand with Ukraine in its war against Russia.

Starmer and Trump spoke on the phone Wednesday, their second call since Trump won the presidential election last month.

On the call, the prime minister congratulated Trump on his recent Cabinet nominations and “reiterated the need for allies to stand together with Ukraine,” a U.K. government statement about the call said.

Starmer noted that the Western allies must ensure Ukraine is in the “strongest possible position” in the face of continued Russian aggression as the war nears its three-year mark.

As tensions continue to rise in the Middle East, Starmer also “underscored the need to work together” to ensure peace and security in the region.

Both Starmer and Trump agreed they want to strengthen the relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States. The leaders said they looked forward to working together on international security and economic growth.

The U.K. readout said they agreed to keep in touch and meet in person at the “earliest opportunity.”

Earlier this week, Trump expressed confidence that he could settle the Russia-Ukraine war but also noted it would be more difficult than the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Trump said the war in Gaza would be in a “good place” when he takes office in January. But he said it would be “more difficult” to handle Russia and Ukraine.

Trump cited the complexity of the war, with the addition of North Korean troops aiding Russia. He also criticized the Biden administration’s move to authorize Ukraine to use long-range missiles that can strike deeper into Russia.

The president-elect has long promised to end the war in Ukraine in one day if he were reelected. His pledge has sparked fears that he might allow Russia to capture land inside Ukraine, but he has offered little details about how he may tackle the conflict.

The Hill has reached out to the Trump transition team for comment.

Topics

Starmer urged to change donation rules amid talk of Musk bankrolling Reform

Exclusive: Electoral Commission wants prime minister to protect elections from foreign interference. Keir Starmer must strengthen the rules around political donations to protect the electoral ...
The Guardian - 1h
McConnell urges Trump to reject isolationism

Outgoing Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is calling on President-elect Trump to reject isolationists in the Republican Party who will argue for the United States to focus on China ...
The Hill - 2d
Labour-aligned think-tank urges Starmer to set UK immigration target

The system would include sub-targets for different types of visas
Financial Times - 4d
Consult us on inheritance tax, farmers urge PM

Farmers driving tractors stage another protest against the Budget changes in central London.
BBC News - Dec. 11
Israeli PM Netanyahu takes stand in corruption trial for first time

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is now juggling his own trial on corruption charges along with the war in Gaza and a new security challenge in neighboring Syria.
CBS News - Dec. 10
Jamal Khashoggi’s widow urges Starmer to raise husband’s murder at Saudi meeting

Starmer will meet crown prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia for talks about forging closer ties on Monday. Jamal Khashoggi’s widow has urged Keir Starmer to raise her husband’s murder at his ...
The Guardian - Dec. 9
Ukraine war briefing: Trump urges China to help end Ukraine war

After meeting US president-elect, Volodymyr Zelenskyy cautions that Ukraine needs a ‘just and robust peace, that Russians will not destroy within a few years’. What we know on day 1,020. See all ...
The Guardian - Dec. 9
Can Keir Starmer’s six targets turn the tide? What the PM said – and what it all means

They might have sounded a tad familiar, but the prime minister is hoping these pledges will win back trust. Sir Keir Starmer’s speech on Thursday mentioned the word “milestone” eight times and ...
The Guardian - Dec. 5
WW2 veteran urges PM to end 'brutal' frozen pension policy

Anne Puckridge is calling on the new government to unfreeze the pensions of some Britons who live abroad.
BBC News - Dec. 3