UK 'must keep sending weapons to Ukraine even if Trump wins back White House'
Britain must carry on sending weapons to Ukraine even if Donald Trump becomes US President again, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps insisted today.
The Cabinet Minister vowed the UK’s commitment to Kyiv would remain, “regardless of what happens elsewhere”. Fears are mounting that Mr Trump will withdraw American support for President Volodymyr Zelensky’s regime if he wins next autumn’s White House race.
Mr Trump has triggered fears he could slash help for the Ukraine administration 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. Mr Shapps told a Royal United Services Institute fringe meeting at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester: “I don’t think it’s entirely clear what would happen if indeed Trump won the nomination, if indeed he won the elections.”
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps was speaking at a fringe event hosted by the Royal United Services Institute at the Conservative Party in Manchester (PA)But, denying the “worst case scenario is Trump”, he added: “I think that Britain will, regardless of what happens elsewhere, take a leadership role in terms of working with our allies.” Mr Shapps was speaking as some of Europe’s top diplomats gathered in the Ukrainian capital in a display of support for Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion.
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European Union foreign ministers converged on Kyiv for an unannounced informal meeting that officials said would review the bloc’s support for Ukraine and discuss Mr Zelensky’s proposed peace formula. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the foreign ministers’ first joint meeting outside EU borders signalled the 27-nation bloc's support is “unwavering” and underscored the its commitment to Ukraine.
Danish foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said Europe must be ready to provide further help “for many good reasons”, adding: “First of all, in order to support Ukraine, but also to send a strong transatlantic signal that what’s going on on our own soil is something we have to take on a great responsibility for.” Luxembourg foreign minister Jean Asselborn said Western allies must maintain military aid to Ukraine “because if we don’t deliver any weapons from the EU, from NATO, from other countries, then this war is over but with the wrong consequences”.
Downing Street said the UK's commitment to Ukraine will not "waver", as No10 played down Western splits. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's spokesman said in Westminster: "Our commitment to Ukraine is steadfast and it's not going to waver. You will continue to see us provide substantial support."
Asked about political wrangling over funding for Kyiv in other countries, the official said: "Obviously it's for each country to decide what they think is an appropriate level of support for them. But collectively, I don't think there has been any backwards step in support for Ukraine - and a substantial period of time into this illegal war, I think (Vladimir) Putin is faced with a strong alliance of countries providing growing levels of support for Ukrainian efforts."
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