Sir Keir Starmer has unveiled a £1.6 billion missile deal for Ukraine following a summit of European leaders held in London.
The Prime Minister also revealed that “a number” of allies, including France’s President Emmanuel Macron, have joined a “coalition of the willing,” expressing readiness to deploy troops to the Ukrainian frontline if a peace agreement is reached.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky attended the summit, where 17 European leaders and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau convened to discuss strategies for achieving peace in Ukraine.
The Lancaster House summit in London followed a televised press conference from the White House, where President Trump criticized Zelensky for what he described as insufficient gratitude for U.S. support.
“My support for Ukraine is unwavering,” said Sir Keir, adding he felt a personal responsibility to end Russia’s illegal war and guarantee Ukraine “a lasting peace based on sovereignty and security”.
“I am also clear that national security is economic security,” he said. “As well as levelling up Ukraine’s air defence, this loan will make working people here in the UK better off, boosting our economy and supporting jobs in Northern Ireland and beyond.
“By doubling down on our support, working closely with key partners, and ensuring Ukraine has a strong voice at the table, I believe we can achieve a strong, lasting deal that delivers a permanent peace in Ukraine.”
Sir Keir will now discuss his four-step plan with Trump, aiming to persuade the US leader to provide a security guarantee for Ukraine.
The PM said his coalition “will intensify planning now, with real urgency” and reiterated that the “UK is prepared to back this with boots on the ground and planes in the air”.
He said: “Together with others, Europe must do the heavy-lifting but to support peace in our continent and to succeed, this effort must have strong US backing. We’re working with the US on this point.”
Speaking to journalists after the summit, the Prime Minister stated he did “not accept that the US is an unreliable ally” and emphasized that the discussions had solidified a plan reaffirming the United States as a key partner.
The newly announced deal will enable Ukraine to access £1.6 billion in export finance to procure over 5,000 air defense missiles manufactured in Belfast.
Sir Keir Starmer described the agreement as “vital for protecting critical infrastructure now” and essential for strengthening Ukraine’s position in securing peace, emphasizing the need to learn from past mistakes. He referenced the Minsk ceasefire agreement, signed a decade ago between Vladimir Putin and then-Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, which Putin later violated.
He added that Ukraine must negotiate peace from a position of strength, and the advanced air defense missiles would be instrumental in achieving that.
According to the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the deal will also create 200 jobs in Northern Ireland and directly support an additional 700 jobs across the UK through the production of more than 5,000 lightweight multirole missiles (LMMs). This will triple production at the Thales factory in Belfast.
The LMMs are designed to defend against Russian drone and missile attacks, and Ukrainian forces are already deploying them following an initial order delivered late last year.
Earlier this week, the government announced plans to increase defense spending to 2.5% of national income by 2027, with a further rise to 3% “in the next parliament,” projected around 2034.
Additionally, the government has launched a new hub to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in accessing the defense supply chain. The MOD has committed to setting direct SME spending targets by June this year, ensuring thousands of UK-based small businesses benefit from the increase in defense spending.
‘Iron-clad commitment’
The UK is at a “critical moment” for the future of Ukraine and the security of us all in Europe, Defence Secretary John Healey said.
He said: “This new support will help protect Ukraine against drone and missile attacks but it will also help deter further Russian aggression following any end to the fighting.
“This new deal delivers on the UK’s ironclad commitment to step up military support for Ukraine, whilst boosting jobs and growth at home.”
The missile deal is part of a series of “mega-projects” for Ukraine, being delivered by the MoD’s Hirst taskforce, which aims to build long-term relationships with Ukrainian industry to restore and modernise their defence industrial base.
This builds on the 100 Year Partnership signed by the PM and Zelensky in Kyiv in January, which commits to £3bn a year of export finance to acquire military equipment from UK companies.
The UK National Armaments Director Andy Start described the latest move as a “critical next step” for the taskforce.
He said: “The UK’s defence industry has supported Ukraine from the start of the war and this important contract underlines industry’s ability to scale up production at pace to deliver the world-class defence equipment Ukraine requires.
“The substantial increase in LMM production capacity will benefit both Ukraine’s fight tonight, as well as the longer-term security of the UK.”