Starmer urges Europe to boost defense support for Ukraine

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has called for European countries to enhance their defense capabilities to support Ukraine. He emphasized the need for a stronger collective response amid concerns that the US may engage in peace talks with Russia without European involvement. Starmer's remarks precede an emergency meeting in Paris, where leaders will address these issues. He indicated readiness to deploy UK troops to Ukraine as part of a peace agreement, a shift from previous statements that only hinted at such involvement. The UK currently allocates about 2.3% of its GDP to defense, with plans to increase it to 2.5%. However, former British Army chief Lord Dannatt warned that this increase may not be sufficient for a significant military presence in Ukraine.