British PM Starmer highlights need for Ukraine’s strong position in peace efforts during meeting with German Chancellor Scholz

At a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stressed the importance of providing Ukraine with the strongest possible position in the coming months to achieve peace through force.

The British government website reports this.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in London on Sunday, February 2, for talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

"The leaders began the meeting by discussing the progress made between the UK and Germany in recent months, including the signing of the Trinity House Agreement in the defense field and the Joint Action Plan to combat illegal migration[…]

Turning to the situation in Ukraine, the Prime Minister reported on his recent visit and stressed the importance of providing Ukraine with the strongest possible position in the coming months to achieve peace through force," the report says.

The heads of government agreed that Russia's invasion of Ukraine "underscored the importance of scaling up and coordinating defense production across Europe."

In this context, the British Prime Minister said that the country's Strategic Defence Review would take into account the lessons learned from Russia's war against Ukraine, as well as the need to respond to Putin's aggression and hostile activities across Europe.

The interlocutors also discussed Starmer's visit to the EU Council and the reset of relations between Britain and the European Union.

"The Prime Minister said that he is committed to strengthening the UK's relationship with the EU for greater growth and closer security ties, which he believes will benefit all parties," the press release said.

It is worth mentioning that on January 22, Scholz stated that even after the war's end, Ukraine needs to secure its future, so the allies will discuss security guarantees for Ukraine soon.

"It would be good if the war in Ukraine ended. But even after that, we would still have to make a secure future for Ukraine possible. Then, we will talk about security guarantees and how Ukraine can maintain a strong army that we are equipping together.

We will discuss this with our allies in the near future," Scholz said, adding that there is no need to speculate now, particularly because there is no need to talk about peace at the moment.

Scholz stated that in November, he proposed separately financing aid to Ukraine in the amount of 8.5 billion euros to support Ukrainians in Germany and 4 billion euros for weapons supplies.

For reference:

Reports indicate ongoing debate in Germany regarding allegations that Chancellor Olaf Scholz is obstructing an additional €3 billion in military aid for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius are advocating for an increase beyond the €4 billion already included in the draft budget for 2025.

At the end of December 2024, Germany transferred a large aid package to Ukraine with IRIS-T and Patriot.

On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, President Volodymyr Zelensky met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to discuss continued support for Ukraine and coordination with partners to achieve a just peace.