UKRAINE is on an "irreversible path to NATO” membership, Sir Keir Starmer said this morning in an apparent split from the United States. The PM phoned Volodymyr Zelensky to pledge Britain’s “concrete support” for their war against Russia “for as long as it's needed”. His reassurance came days after Donald Trump fired the starting gun on peace talks in a shock call with Vladimir Putin. The US President’s promise to broker a ceasefire to “stop the killing” has sparked fears Ukraine will be forced to surrender territory lost to Russia.
![[Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelensky shaking hands.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-starmer-arrived-kyiv-unannounced-964166402.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
And Trump’s Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned yesterday Kyiv’s long-held demand to join the NATO alliance was unrealistic. But - despite being keen to remain on side with the Trump administration - Sir Keir gave Zelensky his backing for full membership. A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “The Prime Minister began by reiterating the UK’s concrete support for Ukraine, for as long as it’s needed.
![[Illustration of a proposed Ukraine peace plan, showing a map with troop deployments and key terms.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/image_ef2f13.png?strip=all&w=620)
“He was unequivocal that there could be no talks about Ukraine, without Ukraine. “Ukraine needed strong security guarantees, further lethal aid and a sovereign future, and it could count on the UK to step up, he added. “The Prime Minister reiterated the UK’s commitment to Ukraine being on an irreversible path to NATO, as agreed by Allies at the Washington Summit last year.”. Putin has long claimed NATO expansion is an aggressive act, something denied by the West as a baseless excuse for invasion.
![[Tank firing in snowy field.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/image_c8c02f.png?strip=all&w=620)
Western allies have been confused by recent mixed messages from the White House. JD Vance today told the Munich Security Conference that US could send troops to Ukraine if Putin doesn't negotiate in good faith. The VP's fighting words come after European nations rebuked the US on Thursday for beginning talks to end Russia's invasion directly with the Kremlin but without including Ukraine. Zelensky was set to meet Vance at the Munich Security Conference today as Trump demands a speedy end to the war.
