Sir Keir Starmer to Press Supporting Countries on Advanced Missile Systems for Ukraine at London Conference

Summit Meeting
The British Prime Minister is set to welcome Ukraine's leader for talks of the "alliance of supportive nations"

Sir Keir Starmer is expected to urge allies to deliver Ukrainian forces with additional long-range missiles to strike Russian targets during discussions in the UK capital on Friday.

The prime minister will host Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky alongside what's known as "coalition of the willing", comprising numerous of Kyiv's partners who have pledged to provide Kyiv defense assurances once hostilities pause is brokered.

Zelensky has been appealing for several weeks for more extended-range systems from the West, a move that Moscow has stated would intensify the hostilities.

The Ukrainian president is travelling from the EU capital, where he met European representatives on yesterday seeking financial support.

"The single figure involved in current hostilities who declines to stop the conflict is Vladimir Putin," the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister furthermore declare that a hundred further air defence missiles will be provided to Kyiv sooner than scheduled, as outlined in a £1.6bn deal concluded between the UK and the Ukrainian government in March.

Diplomatic Momentum

The Ukrainian president travels after two diplomatic wins in recent days: Donald Trump's decision to finally apply additional restrictions against the Russian government, and the European Union agreeing to fund Kyiv's budgetary shortfall.

Britain's leader is hoping to continue the progress by escalating the pressure on Russia to pursue a conclusion to the conflict.

Meeting Attendees

  • Nato Secretary General the Dutch official
  • Copenhagen's head the Danish PM
  • Holland's Dick Schoof
  • Additional participants such as France's leader the French president will participate remotely

Sir Keir will encourage leaders to increase the provision of long-range weapons following a successful strike on a chemical plant in Bryansk, Russia, using UK-provided Storm Shadow missiles.

"And his depraved attacks on young children in a nursery this week make that perfectly obvious," he continued.

Two children were part of no fewer than seven killed in numerous Moscow's attacks on the country, which targeted a preschool facility in the important metropolitan area the eastern city.

Financial Discussions

Sir Keir will confer with partner nations on methods to remove Russian oil and gas out of worldwide commerce.

They will furthermore examine using blocked Russian resources to supply Ukraine with financial loans, though the proposal encountered insufficient agreement and regulatory obstacles at the EU conference on the previous day.

European nations opted against approving an initiative to employ up to €140bn in seized Russian resources to economically support the Ukrainian economy.

Nonetheless, the participants agreed to contribute to Kyiv's "budgetary necessities" for the coming 24 months.

United States furthermore announced measures on recently against the Russian major petroleum firms, Rosneft and the private firm, as part of efforts to add economic pressure on Moscow to begin hostility discussions.

Moscow began its full-scale invasion of Ukrainian territory in winter 2022. Russian troops presently controls about 20% of Ukraine's soil, comprising the southern region Moscow annexed in several years ago.

David Gregory
David Gregory

A seasoned fintech journalist with over a decade of experience covering blockchain technology and digital asset markets across Europe.