UK PM Starmer Discusses The Importance Of 'Security Guarantees' For Ukraine In A Peace Deal

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke about security guarantees for Ukraine during a meeting at the White House on Monday with European leaders.

Transcript

00:00Thank you very much, Emanuel. Mr Prime Minister?

00:04Thank you very much, Mr President, and thank you for hosting us here.

00:08Can I start where Emanuel started, which is we all want peace.

00:13The war in Ukraine has had a huge impact, particularly on the Ukrainians who've borne the brunt of it,

00:18but it's also had an impact on Europe and on the United Kingdom.

00:23There's not a family or community that hasn't been affected.

00:26And when we talk about security, we're talking about the security not just of Ukraine,

00:30we're talking about the security of Europe and the United Kingdom as well,

00:34which is why this is such an important issue.

00:36I think this is such an important meeting.

00:38As a group, I think we've had a discussion on the phone a number of times, Mr President,

00:42but be able now to be around the table to take it forward.

00:45And I really feel that we can, I think, with the right approach this afternoon,

00:50make real progress, particularly on the security guarantees.

00:54And your indication of security guarantees, some sort of Article 5 style guarantees,

00:59fits with what we've been doing with the Coalition of the Willing,

01:02which we started some months ago, bringing countries together

01:05and showing that we were prepared to step up to the plate when it came to security.

01:10With you coming alongside the U.S., alongside what we've already developed,

01:14I think we could take a really important step forward today,

01:18a historic step, actually, could come out of this meeting in terms of security,

01:22for Ukraine and security in Europe.

01:24I also feel that we can make real progress towards a just and lasting outcome.

01:32Obviously, that has to involve Ukraine.

01:35And a trilateral meeting seems the sensible next step.

01:39So thank you for being prepared to take that forward,

01:41because I think if we can ensure that that is the progress out of this meeting,

01:49both security guarantees and some sort of progress on trilateral meeting of some sort

01:54to bring some of the difficult issues to a head,

01:58then I think today will be seen as a very important day in recent years.

02:03In relation to a conflict which has gone on for three and a bit years,

02:06and so far nobody has been able to bring it to this point.

02:10So I thank you for that.

02:11Well, thank you very much.

02:13And, you know, it's very interesting because this is the first for the White House.

02:16You can't say that very often.

02:18It's seen a lot over the years, over the – since 1800, 1799, to be almost exact.

02:25But this is the first where we've had so many prime ministers, presidents,

02:29the heads of European nations.