Starmer Calls on Europe to Shoulder More Defense Responsibility

(Bloomberg) -- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will urge European countries to step up and take on a greater share of defense and security responsibilities as Russia’s war in Ukraine approaches the end of its third year.

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During a visit to Brussels on Monday for an informal meeting of the European Council, Starmer will urge leaders to shoulder more of the burden of defending the continent against increased threats from Moscow. He will also call on the block to sustain military support for Ukraine, according to a statement from his office.

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The European Union, UK and US have all implemented economic sanctions on Moscow in an effort to hit the Russian economy. However, President Donald Trump’s executive orders to halt and reevaluate US foreign aid and his desire to end the war quickly has raised concerns as to how long the US will continue to aid Kyiv and place pressure on President Vladimir Putin’s war chest.

“I’m here to work with our European partners on keeping up the pressure, targeting the energy revenues and the companies supplying his missile factories to crush Putin’s war machine,” Starmer will say in a speech.

He will also pitch an ambitious UK-EU defense and security partnership to increase co-operation against shared threats, cross-border crime and illegal migration.

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