LONDON: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is 鈥渓aser-focused鈥� on securing peace in Ukraine after US President Donald Trump suspended military aid to Kyiv, Britain鈥檚 deputy prime minister said Tuesday.
Angela Rayner said the pause was 鈥渁 matter for鈥� the United States and it had not changed Starmer鈥檚 approach toward trying to find a suitable ceasefire to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
鈥淗e鈥檚 laser focused on getting peace. He won鈥檛 be derailed by announcements,鈥� Rayner told BBC Radio after being asked for her reaction to Trump鈥檚 announcement.
She added that the British Labour government was 鈥渇ocused on support for Ukraine鈥� and 鈥渂ringing the US around the table alongside our European partners and Ukraine.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檝e put our money where our mouth is and stepped up our support for Ukraine through air defense, through military capabilities, and through the military aid we give year upon year,鈥� Rayner said.
Starmer is seeking to tread a fine line between backing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and keeping Trump onside as Europe seeks security guarantees in the event of an end to the war.
鈥淗e won鈥檛 be bounced by particular announcements overnight,鈥� Rayner told ITV television.
鈥淗e will continue to work with our strong allies to get the peace for Ukraine and for Europe,鈥� she added, describing the UK as an 鈥渉onest broker.鈥�
The UK鈥檚 main opposition leader, Kemi Badenoch, said Britain and Europe must 鈥渞earm faster鈥� following Trump鈥檚 announcement.
鈥淭he news overnight that America is halting military aid to Ukraine is profoundly worrying,鈥� she wrote on X.
鈥淚t is clear that Britain and Europe must rearm much faster if we want to provide Ukraine with more than just warm words of support.
鈥淲e must work to keep America in, and Russia out.鈥�