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Keir Starmer pledges Britain will continue to put Ukraine 'in the strongest position' to protect itself
The Daily Mail ^ | 12 Feb 2025 | MARK NICOL and HARRIET LINE

Posted on 02/12/2025 3:16:17 PM PST by MinorityRepublican

Keir Starmer last night promised this country would continue to put Ukraine ‘in the strongest position’ to protect itself.

But the Prime Minister and Defence Secretary John Healey face huge decisions over military spending following a monumental shift in US policy away from Europe.

As part of a ‘new world order’, the US will no longer prioritise British and European security, meaning the UK and its continental allies will have to step up.

But at the same time, Chancellor Rachel Reeves appears determined to cap defence spending at 2.3 per cent of GDP.

The Mail has repeatedly called for the government to boost armed forces’ investment to at least 2.5 per cent as part of its ‘Don’t Leave Britain Defenceless’ campaign.

Last night, Sir Keir said: ‘Ukraine needs to be in the strongest possible position. I’ve talked this through with Zelenskyy when I was there [in Ukraine] just a few weeks ago.

‘It was the eighth time I’ve met him since I’ve been PM and I’ve met him before that, to go through in some detail what putting them in the strongest position means.’

With the Army at its smallest size since Napoleonic times, it could soon be required to provide 15,000 ground troops as part of an non-US peacekeeping force in Ukraine.

These troops, who would likely deploy alongside French, German and Italian allies, would not be protected by the US should they be attacked by Russia.

Defence expert Francis Tusa suggested the open-ended commitment could cost £3-4 billion annually - which could not be afforded as part of the Treasury’s current estimates on defence spending.

The Financial Times reported that defence chiefs pushing for a budget of 2.65% of GDP in the strategic defence review...

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Ukraine; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS:
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1 posted on 02/12/2025 3:16:17 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican

Starmer is going to complete the decades-long work of turning England into North Pakistan but he’s worried about Ukraine’s border.


2 posted on 02/12/2025 3:17:47 PM PST by AnotherUnixGeek
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To: MinorityRepublican

Good for him if he wants to bankrupt his country, but leave us out...


3 posted on 02/12/2025 3:19:55 PM PST by packrat35 (Pureblood! No clot shot for me!)
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To: MinorityRepublican

I think Keir Starmer should double Britain’s effort and toss in a few thousand troops, if they are dopey enough to actually go.


4 posted on 02/12/2025 3:24:29 PM PST by JonPreston ( ✌ ☮️ )
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To: MinorityRepublican

If he had half a brain, he may want to think about the Falklands, which means he’ll need to suck up to Trump, since he has neither the military nor the diplomatic capability to stop Argentina from liberating those islands.


5 posted on 02/12/2025 3:25:23 PM PST by BobL
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To: BobL

With Milei, I’d rather let the Argies have the Falklands. The Brits don’t belong in our Hemisphere.


6 posted on 02/12/2025 3:30:22 PM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: dfwgator

“With Milei, I’d rather let the Argies have the Falklands. The Brits don’t belong in our Hemisphere.”

Yep, good point, Stammer may well find himself without any American support (even in the American public) for keeping the islands, and should that happen, well, then they’re gone.


7 posted on 02/12/2025 3:33:45 PM PST by BobL
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To: MinorityRepublican

Two Tier Free Gear Keir continuing to write checks the UK’s Deep State can’t cash...


8 posted on 02/12/2025 3:34:21 PM PST by mewzilla (Swing away, Mr. President, swing away!)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Go for it. Just leave us out of it.


9 posted on 02/12/2025 3:40:52 PM PST by McGruff (Biden will go down in history as the worst president ever.)
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To: MinorityRepublican; USA-FRANCE

The ONLY thing Ukraine will get from European countries is lip service and sympathy.

Without the US, they will do nothing.

Nothing.


10 posted on 02/12/2025 3:45:55 PM PST by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: Mariner
Without the US, they will do nothing.

Nothing.

Agreed.

I doubt there'll be any peacekeeping troops from the EU.

11 posted on 02/12/2025 3:47:43 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican

China is the threat. The EU Fascists hate Russia. America gave all during WWII and prevented WWIII. MAGA is not new world order garbage.


12 posted on 02/12/2025 3:54:23 PM PST by shanover (...To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.-S.Adams)
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To: shanover
China is the threat.

Perhaps. We just need to be smart.

China has announced a ban of rare earth mineral exports to the United States.

We need to secure our own supplies. Greenland is one way of doing that.

13 posted on 02/12/2025 4:02:50 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican

Better watch it Ukraine Keir Starman is a total failure


14 posted on 02/12/2025 4:10:10 PM PST by butlerweave
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To: MinorityRepublican

Perhaps Ukraine could put old Keir on the front lines for a spell. Might not help Ukraine but it would greatly benefit the UK.


15 posted on 02/12/2025 4:24:18 PM PST by madprof98
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To: butlerweave
Olaf, Emmanuel and Keir.

Zelensky is not an idiot.

He's not going to depend on them.

16 posted on 02/12/2025 4:24:32 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican
Zelensky is not an idiot.

Anyone who can make $100bn US taxpayer dollars disappear isn't an idiot.

17 posted on 02/12/2025 4:44:41 PM PST by JonPreston ( ✌ ☮️ )
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To: MinorityRepublican

Sir Keir should look up delusional.


18 posted on 02/12/2025 5:22:21 PM PST by RetiredTexasVet (Trump has arrived and it is awesome to have a real President.)
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To: BobL

Islas Malvinas for the....uh....Isleños Malvinas! (had to look up the translation for “islanders.”


19 posted on 02/12/2025 5:36:29 PM PST by decal (They won't stop, so they'll have to be stopped)
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To: Mariner

Whole Europe is ready to double down in helping Ukraine against the illegal Russian invaders. The fight against NeoSovietism and communism is continuing.
Trump will sell weapons en mass to Europe, like never before. Russia will weaken till Putin is eliminated by his own KGB (FSB).

As it stands right now Europe has given 125 Billion dollars to Ukraine, America has given around 88 billion dollars.

Thus, contrary to what you said, Europe is doing more than America right now concerning Ukraine spending.


20 posted on 02/12/2025 5:36:55 PM PST by USA-FRANCE (The Iran-Russia-North Korea-China Alliance is at war against Israel and Ukraine. Let's not forget.)
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