Keir Starmer undermines Donald Trump simply hours after he turns into US President | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Keir Starmer seems to have undermined Donald Trump simply hours after he grew to become US President – telling European allies they need to now “step up” and assist Ukraine.

The Prime Minister advised the European Political Community assembly in Budapest, Hungary, that the UK’s help was “ironclad”.

Donald Trump’s victory within the US Presidential election on Tuesday has ignited fears Washington may cease sending weapons to Ukraine.

One overseas minister, talking on the EPC assembly, stated the vote in America has “changed the status quo” on Ukraine.

Sir Keir told Volodymyr Zelensky the UK had an “unwavering” commitment to help the country defend itself against Russia’s invasion during bilateral talks at a European Political Community summit in Hungary.

The gathering of European leaders on Thursday was largely overshadowed by Mr Trump’s historic win at the US polls which puts him on course for a second term in the White House.

But figures including Sir Keir used the summit to insist international partners “see this by means of” and strengthen their resolve to offer continued support for Ukraine.

There will be concerns across some western capitals that the American election result may leave the country imperilled following the Republican politician’s refusal to explicitly back a victory for Kyiv.

He has said he wants to end the war “inside a day” but has not set out the specifics of how this would be achieved, with some interpreting this to mean a peace deal on terms favourable to Moscow.

Meeting Mr Zelensky one-to-one on the fringes of the event in Budapest, Sir Keir said: “As you realize, our help for Ukraine is unwavering.

“And I strongly believe that not only should it be unwavering, but we need to step up, and I was very pleased to be able to say that (today).

“It’s crucial that we see this by means of. It’s crucial that we stand with you.”

The Ukrainian leader replied: “We’re very grateful. We’re very proud that we’ve such bilateral relations between our nations.

“Thank you for sticking with us all through this tough period.”

Speaking after the assembly, Sir Keir stated the broader level being made in Budapest was not simply concerning the sovereignty of Ukraine, however about “our freedom, our democracy and our values”.

“And that’s why it was very important for me today to have that further conversation with President Zelensky and reiterate just how ironclad the UK’s support for Ukraine is,” he stated.

French President Emmanuel Macron added: “For me, it’s simple. The world is made up of herbivores and carnivores. If we decide to remain herbivores, then the carnivores will win and we will be a market for them.

“I think, at the very least, we should choose to become omnivores. I don’t want to be aggressive, just that we know how to defend ourselves on all these subjects.”

Nato secretary common Mark Rutte stated Mr Trump’s first time period had stimulated Europe to spend extra on defence however “we need to do more”.

He confused that the specter of Russia and its alliance with North Korea, China and Iran, posed issues to the US in addition to Europe.

“If Russia would be successful in Ukraine, you would have an emboldened Russia at our border, having gained land mass, having gained the huge defence force of Ukraine, but also the ingenuity of the Ukrainian people,” he stated in Budapest.

“So that will be a threat not only to the European part of Nato, but also to the United States.

“And that is why, collectively, we’ve to work not solely on the specter of Russia, but additionally the truth that these 4 international locations work collectively, and that now, very quickly, we are going to see that additionally the US itself is underneath risk from these latest technological developments due to Russia giving its newest insights and expertise to the North Koreans.”

Around 50 European countries were reassessing their transatlantic relations at the summit in the hope that Mr Trump’s second US presidency will avoid the strife of his first administration.

European allies in Nato have congratulated the Republican politician on his election win and hope to convince him that if he helps to negotiate any peace, it should be done from a position of strength, for both Ukraine and the US.

Mr Rutte, who was Dutch prime minister during Mr Trump’s first 2017-2021 presidency, said: “I labored with him very effectively for 4 years.

“He is extremely clear about what he wants. He understands that you have to deal with each other to come to joint positions. And I think we can do that.”

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the summit’s host and a staunch Trump supporter, stated he had already had a telephone name with the incoming president in a single day and that “we have big plans for the future”.

So did Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who lauded the “deep and historic strategic partnership that has always tied Rome and Washington”.

Speaking to a small group of reporters in Budapest, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stated the end result of the U.S. election has “modified the established order” on Ukraine.

“Europe has to reflect. If you ask me the theoretical question whether Europe could replace the U.S. in that matter I would say obviously not,” he stated. “The outcome of the U.S. presidential elections creates a totally new reality, not only in Europe but in the world.”