UK Reaffirms Support for Ukraine’s NATO Membership Despite Trump Administration Doubts

LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to Ukraine’s “irreversible path” to NATO membership, following comments from figures in former President Donald Trump’s administration suggesting otherwise. Starmer communicated this support during a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as they both prepared for discussions at the Munich Security Conference.

During their conversation, Starmer reiterated a pledge made at last year’s NATO summit in Washington, emphasizing that the UK will continue its support for Ukraine as long as it’s needed. He stated, “There cannot be any discussions about Ukraine without Ukraine.”

A Downing Street spokesperson provided a readout of the call, noting Starmer’s commitment to ensuring that Ukraine receives “strong security guarantees, further lethal aid, and a sovereign future.” The Prime Minister expressed that Ukraine could rely on the UK to enhance its security.

Both leaders recognized the current moment as crucial for exhibiting international unity and support for Ukraine. They agreed to maintain close communication throughout ongoing developments.

The UK is navigating a delicate balance between supporting Kyiv and fostering a relationship with Trump, who indicated willingness to engage in negotiations with Russia regarding Ukraine. Trump’s Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, recently stated that restoring Ukraine to its pre-2014 borders, prior to Russia’s initial invasion, is “not realistic.” His remarks come as the Trump administration outlines its stance on the Ukraine conflict and prospective peace agreements.

Starmer emphasized that Ukraine has consistently called for NATO membership and has dismissed any notion of ceding territory to Russia as part of peace negotiations. “NATO’s official position remains that Ukraine is on an irreversible path to joining the alliance,” Starmer expressed, reinforcing that the decision is supported by both NATO allies and former President Joe Biden.

In the wake of these discussions, Starmer also took a phone call from Trump to discuss both the forthcoming visit to the U.S. and the broader geopolitical context. Starmer did not align with Trump’s characterization of Putin as a “genius” and a “savvy” statesman, clearly stating, “Putin is the aggressor here.” He added that the simplest solution for ending the conflict would be for Putin to withdraw his forces from Ukraine.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance on the first day of the Munich Security Conference. Following their discussions, Lammy expressed optimism regarding the united stance on the necessity of including Ukraine in any future peace negotiations. He stated, “The view that Zelensky and the Ukrainians must be part of the negotiated deal is crucial to achieving enduring peace.”

This development comes as both allies reiterate their commitment to ensuring that negotiations reflect Ukraine’s interests and sovereignty. Lammy acknowledged Trump’s desire to engage with both Zelensky and Putin regarding talks but highlighted that such discussions are still in preliminary phases, and a formal peace deal remains distant.

As the situation develops, the UK government continues to emphasize the importance of Ukraine’s future within the NATO alliance, setting a clear distinction from Trump’s administration’s recent stance.