Starmer calls Russia a 'menace' to Britain's waters and skies, as UK ramps up missile spending
by Eoghan Dalton, https://www.thejournal.ie/author/eoghan-dalton/ · TheJournal.ieLAST UPDATE | 8 hrs ago
BRITAIN PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer has told the House of Commons that Russia is a “menace” to the UK’s waters and skies, with the leader urging the need to secure a “just and lasting peace” in Ukraine.
Addressing the parliament today, Starmer accused Vladimir Putin’s Russia of carrying out cyber attacks on the Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) and conducted “assassination attacks in our streets” through its covert activities.
It follows news earlier today that the UK has signed a €1.9 billion (£1.6 billion) deal to supply more than 5,000 air defence missiles – made in Belfast – to Ukraine.
Starmer said that we are living in an era where “peace in Europe depends on strength and deterrence”, with Ukraine’s future “vital” for the UK’s national security.
The Labour leader also told MPs that the UK will “never choose between either side of the Atlantic” and instead “must strengthen our relationship with America”.
The US “are and always will be indispensable”, Starmer said today.
The idea of a choice between the US and Europe is “totally unserious” as America remains “vital in securing the peace we all want to see”, Starmer stressed.
The notion of a choice has come amid debate about Europe’s future, with Germany’s chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz maintaining that Europe needs to “achieve independence from the US” in the wake of Donald Trump’s election victory.
Starmer said that he feels “strongly” that Ukraine’s future is “vital” for the UK’s national security.
“In this house, we stand by Ukraine because it’s the right thing to do,” he said, adding that it’s in the country’s interest.
“A strong peace, a just peace, a lasting peace – that has now to be our goal,” the prime minister said.
Starmer said that the lightweight-multirole missiles (LMM) announced today will create 200 jobs, and today in the House of Commons he said that increased defence spending will “fundamentally rebuild British industry” by creating jobs and apprentice roles in “every part” of the country.
The missiles, which are capable of flying at 1.5 times the speed of sound and striking targets over 6km away, can be used to attack enemy vehicles, boats and drones.
They will be manufactured at the Thales weapons plant in Belfast.
Speaking earlier, UK Defence Secretary John Healey said: “This new support will help protect Ukraine against drone and missile attacks but it will also help deter further Russian aggression following any end to the fighting.
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“This new deal delivers on the UK’s ironclad commitment to step up military support for Ukraine whilst boosting jobs and growth at home.”
The contract will be funded by a loan underwritten by United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF).
In September, the UK Government announced a €196 million (£162 million) deal to send 650 LMMs to Ukraine.
A summit of European leaders met in London at the weekend to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Starmer said that it has been agreed that “a group” will work “with Ukraine on a plan to stop the fighting and then discuss that with the US and take it forward together”.
Ukraine’s allies need to also continue their support in the moment, Starmer said, adding: “Even while Russia talks about peace, they are continuing their relentless aggression.”
He concluded: “That is the agenda and we need to agree what steps come out of this meeting to deliver peace through strength for the benefit of all.”
‘Hugely significant’
DUP leader Gavin Robinson has said that an order for the Thales missile factory to supply 5,000 air defence missiles to Ukraine is “hugely significant” for the Belfast workforce.
“It is a hugely significant story,” East Belfast MP Mr Robinson told the BBC Good Morning Ulster programme.
“Significant because of the turbulence in international relations in the last week.
“Significant because of the contribution that Thales have been making to Ukraine since the start, in fact before the start of Russia’s brutal invasion, and significant because of the recognition that is given through this order to the skill and the ingenuity of the team at Thales.”
He added: “This order of 5,000 units in an overall package of £1.6 billion is hugely significant for the Belfast workforce. It is a recognition of their skill and what they do in our city.”
Want to know more about what’s happening in Ukraine and why? Check out our FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to finding good information online.
With reporting by PA
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