Starmer renews support for Ukraine at NATO summit

^{Image credit: Prime Minister's Office / GOV.UK}

Keir Starmer reaffirmed the UK's support for Ukraine at the NATO summit this week.

The summit was held between 9 to 11 July in Washington D.C., and marked its 75th anniversary since the group's formation.

U.S. president Joe Biden hosted a multitude of world leaders including French president Emmanuel Macron, Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Starmer said at the NATO summit press conference: "Together with our allies today we have reaffirmed our unshakeable support for Ukraine’s ultimate victory.

He promised to "deliver justice for the awful crimes that Russia has committed."

He referenced the "challenge of China", terrorism, conflicts across the Middle East and North Africa, and the "generational" threat of Russia.

"Our values are not a point of weakness, as Putin may think," he said, "they are the source of our strength." 

When I went to Kyiv, I saw for myself the devastation and inhumanity of Russian aggression. 

I went to Bucha, just outside Kyiv and spoke to some of the people there who described to me and pointed to me on the road where they had picked up the bodies of their friends and their family members who had been killed, many of them handcuffed and had to transport them to find graves for them 

He said the experience had a "profound effect" on him.

Starmer pledged to deliver £3 billion worth of support to Ukraine each year for as long as it takes. 

"We will speed up our delivery of military aid," he added.

He also reportedly told Ukrainian president Zelensky that NATO would be stronger with Ukraine as a member.