Today at 01:03
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Russia is losing momentum both on the battlefield and at home, arguing that now is the time to increase pressure on Moscow and expand military support for Ukraine.
Speaking after a meeting of the E5 leaders in Berlin on June 24, Starmer pointed to growing economic difficulties in Russia and rising public dissatisfaction with the war, UATV English reports.
“There are clear signs that, as Russia loses ground, its economy is struggling and opinion in Moscow is turning against Putin’s war. This is therefore a crucial moment to increase pressure on their economy through new sanctions and to provide Ukraine with greater military support,” Starmer said.
He added that strengthening support for Ukraine should be a top priority at the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara.
According to the British prime minister, G7 leaders reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine during last week’s summit in Évian and are determined to build on what he described as Ukraine’s growing momentum.
“Ukrainians are increasingly able to push Russia back on the battlefield. That has been one of the defining developments of this year,” Starmer said.
The British leader also argued that the upcoming NATO summit should focus on building a stronger European pillar within the Alliance.
“Our common objective must be to decisively strengthen European leadership and sovereign capabilities, while working in full coordination with the United States,” he said.
Starmer stressed that Europe must be capable of ensuring its own security, deterring future threats, and preserving what he called “the most successful military alliance in history.”
The prime minister reiterated the United Kingdom’s commitment to the largest sustained increase in defense spending since the Cold War. He emphasized that the challenge is not only to spend more on defense but also to reform how defense budgets are used by incorporating lessons learned from Ukraine’s battlefield experience.
Starmer further argued that Europe’s defense modernization must be accompanied by a new era of industrial cooperation.
“The reality of modern warfare is that we must be able to outperform our adversaries in both innovation and production capacity,” he said.
The E5 meeting in Berlin brought together German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte joined the discussions via video link from Washington, where he is holding meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The NATO summit is scheduled to take place in Ankara, Türkiye, on July 7–8.
