UK must be ready to support Ukraine without US help if Trump wins, Labour warns
Britain must be ready to support Ukraine without American help if Donald Trump becomes President again and abandons Kyiv, the Shadow Defence Secretary signalled today.
Speaking at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington DC, John Healey said the UK should be prepared to “work through” the “challenges” a second Trump presidency could pose for war-ravaged Ukraine. The Labour frontbencher was asked whether “the UK and Europe can support Ukraine without the US”, amid mounting fears America could water down its military commitments, including to Ukraine, if Mr Trump returns to the White House.
Mr Healey said: “One of the special strengths of the way the UK and US have regarded each other and worked together - particularly on defence and security in our militaries - has been that commitment has withstood the political cycles and changes in political leadership. I don’t underestimate the challenges that might lie in the sort of scenario you talked about, but we have to be willing and ready to work through that.”
It raises the prospect of Keir Starmer as Prime Minister being forced to tackle Mr Trump to back Kyiv - or the UK and EU having to pump in billions of pounds more to make-up for a US shortfall. Mr Trump triggered fears he could slash help for the regime if he wins next year’s presidential race.
He has claimed he could end the war in 24 hours - without saying how - and refused to say whether he wanted Ukraine to prevail. He also moaned about the cost of vital gear sent to Ukraine. We don't have ammunition for ourselves, we're giving away so much," complained Mr Trump.
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Hero leader Volodymyr Zelensky is due to hold talks with President Joe Biden in the States this week after addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York. He is expected to press the White House to boost military aid for Ukraine as it fights Russian invaders.
Mr Healey stressed British support for Kyiv would be unchanged by Mr Starmer entering No10. “If there is a change to Labour at the next election next year, there will be no change to Britain's resolve,” he insisted. “It has to be sustainable until the point where the Ukrainians can win their fight with Russia - because UK security and, in many ways, the defence of the UK, defence of the US, starts in Ukraine. If (Vladimir) Putin is allowed to benefit from those suing for some sort of ceasefire now, if he is allowed to hold onto territory he’s taken by force, he will regroup, he will consolidate the regime and legitimise some of the methods he uses and we will see renewed Russian aggression in other areas, other fronts to come - so this is long-term.”
Mr Healey said whichever party won the next general election - widely expected next autumn - would “inherit” the war in Ukraine. “Despite hopes that this would be somehow resolvable on the battlefield this year, Ukraine will be inherited by the next Government,” he warned. Mr Healey was appearing at the think tank alongside leading Democratic Congressman Dean Phillips as the pair discussed “the future of defence for the UK and its allies”.
Warning it was “imperative we stick the course” in supporting Ukraine, Mr Phillips highlighted “an erosion” in backing from senior Republican Party figures. He also urged experts to plan for Putin being toppled as the war, which began in February last year, drags on. Mr Phillips said: “A post-Putin Russia is something we should start thinking about - we have the potential for a failed nation with nuclear weapons.”
Following the session, Mr Healey was whisked to the Pentagon in neighbouring Virginia for talks with top military chiefs and defence officials, including Deputy Assistant Defence Secretary Michael Chase. Mr Healey is due to hold meetings at the White House tomorrow.
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