 "London summit: PM Starmer announces additional £1.6bn package for Ukraine air defence missiles")
A day after the UK signed a deal to provide Kyiv with a loan of a whopping 2.26 billion pounds , PM Keir Starmer pledged an additional £1.6 billion in UK export finance to support Ukraine. This funding will enable Ukraine to purchase over 5,000 air defence missiles which will be manufactured in Belfast.
“This will be vital for protecting critical infrastructure now and strengthening Ukraine in securing peace when it comes. We have to learn from the mistakes of the past. We cannot accept a weak deal like Minsk, which Russia can breach with ease," Starmer said.
Ahead of the high-stakes discussions earlier today, PM Starmer said that European leaders are facing a “once-in-a-generation moment” as they gather for crucial talks on Ukraine.
The meeting comes amid increasing pressure to strengthen Kyiv’s defences and ensure long-term support as the war continues.
Eighteen allies were gathered on the key question of security guarantees for Ukraine, especially after an unprecedented heated White House debate between US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart.
Hosted by PM Starmer, who sat alongside Zelenskyy in front of the flags of Ukraine and European nations, the summit was described as “a once-in-a-generation moment for the security of Europe, and we all need to step up.”
Europe to ramp up defence spending
More European countries will increase defence spending and the United States remains committed to NATO, the alliance’s chief Mark Rutte said Sunday after Ukraine crisis talks in London.
“It was very good news that more European countries will ramp up defence spending,” Rutte said of the meeting, adding that the US was committed to NATO despite frequent criticism by President Donald Trump.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsEuropean Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen warned on Sunday that “we urgently have to rearm Europe” as leaders from the continent met in London for crisis talks over Ukraine.
Von der Leyen said she would present a “comprehensive plan” at an EU summit on Thursday, adding that “we have to have a surge in defence” and “step up massively”.
“It’s now of utmost importance we increase spending … it’s important we prepare for the worst,” she added.
Tusk to Putin: West won’t back down
Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that no one in the West has any intention of capitulating to Putin’s “blackmail and aggression.”
Addressing the media, “The best way to discourage Putin and other aggressors is to build our own strength, and the best way to convince President Trump to want to strengthen cooperation with Europe, and not weaken it, is our European strength. Everyone will want to work with a strong partner,”.
Von der Leyen will present a report on rearming Europe
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says she will present next week a plan to “rearm Europe” to bolster the bloc’s security.
Speaking at the end of the summit on Ukraine defense and security in London, the head of the EU’s executive branch said she will unveil the plan to heads of state and government during an EU summit in Brussels.
“We all have understood that after a long time of under investment it is now of utmost importance to step up the defense investment for a prolonged period of time. It’s for the security of the European Union,” she said.
Italy stands by Ukraine, seeks ‘just and lasting peace’
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni met with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the London meeting on Sunday, reaffirming Italy’s support for Ukraine.
Her office said she expressed support, together with European and Western partners and the United States, “to build a just and lasting peace, which ensures a future of sovereignty, security and freedom for Ukraine.” It was in line with Italy’s position through the war while keeping the U.S. in the picture.
Meloni spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump by phone on the eve on the meeting, but her office did not reveal the contents of the call.
It is “very, very important” to avoid the “risk that the West divides” over Ukraine, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warned in London on Sunday as European leaders gathered for crisis talks.
With inputs from agencies
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