Columnists
How Donald Trump has betrayed UK as well as Ukraine. We must increase defence spending
By Christine Jardine
Published 24th Feb 2025,
The UK will have to dig deep to help Ukraine defend itself, for the sake of our own security as well as theirs
It doesn't seem like three years since we woke to the news that the invasion of Ukraine, which Putin promised wouldn't happen, had started. While realising immediately that we were entering a difficult phase in international relations, I doubt if many of us understood that, three years on, we would be looking at a changed world order.
That Europe would be facing the reality of a hostile power on our borders and the shape of our traditional defence mechanism – Nato – under threat. Or that the 80-year-old special relationship between ourselves and the US, which was forged in war and shaped modern Europe, would be hanging by a thread. But here we are.
In February 2022, we saw only too clearly the immediate impact the invasions had on the people of Ukraine. When Volodymyr Zelensky became the first foreign head of state to speak, via video link, to the House of Commons, we were aware that our future economic and political stability could depend on how effectively we helped Ukraine defend itself. It was emotional.
A changed world
The outpouring of support and welcome for Ukrainian refugees was, of course, genuine, but also not entirely altruistic for those very reasons.
Ukrainian troops fire artillery shells towards Russian positions in Donetsk (Picture: Roman Pilipey) | AFP via Getty Images
Suddenly we face a changed world. One in which Donald Trump’s actions amount to little more than a stitch-up that betrays Ukraine, our European allies, and ourselves. We will have to dig deep to protect our own security and that of our neighbour.
Strong leadership
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has committed the UK to a peace-keeping force in Ukraine, even though we do not know yet what that could look like.
My own party, the Liberal Democrats, has made it clear that, in this new and dangerous world in which our oldest ally is threatening to turn its back on Europe in favour of a Pacific strategy, we must look to provide the strong leadership our continent now needs.
To protect ourselves, we must increase our defence spending as soon as possible to 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product. We must not stop there.
Politicians from all parties must get round the table and build a consensus on how we increase that spending and ensure our mutual protection.
Three years ago we promised to stand with Ukraine, to protect their people and their sovereignty. We listened to Zelensky and answered his calls. But all of that was just the beginning. The real challenge has just started.
Christine Jardine is Scottish Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West
Strong leadership
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has committed the UK to a peace-keeping force in Ukraine, even though we do not know yet what that could look like.
My own party, the Liberal Democrats, has made it clear that, in this new and dangerous world in which our oldest ally is threatening to turn its back on Europe in favour of a Pacific strategy, we must look to provide the strong leadership our continent now needs.
To protect ourselves, we must increase our defence spending as soon as possible to 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product. We must not stop there.
Politicians from all parties must get round the table and build a consensus on how we increase that spending and ensure our mutual protection.
Three years ago we promised to stand with Ukraine, to protect their people and their sovereignty. We listened to Zelensky and answered his calls. But all of that was just the beginning. The real challenge has just started.
Christine Jardine is Scottish Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West
Ursula von der Leyen arrives in Kyiv with €3.5 billion in fresh aid for weapons
Copyright Evgeniy Maloletka/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved
By Jorge Liboreiro
Published on 24/02/2025 -
Ursula von der Leyen's ninth visit to Kyiv since the start of the full-scale invasion to meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyy comes amid US attempts to negotiate end to war bilaterally with Russia.
Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv by train on Monday morning to mark the third anniversary of the start of Russia's war against Ukraine and as Donald Trump's big push for negotiations rattles European allies, stoking fears a rushed deal could leave the entire continent vulnerable to the Kremlin's expansionism.
The president of the European Commission is expected to unveil a €3.5 billion package of financial aid to inject additional liquidity into Ukraine's strained budget and facilitate the purchase of military equipment from its domestic industry.
The €3.5 billion is an advance on a larger €50-billion assistance fund that the European Union established in early 2024, dubbed "the Ukraine Facility".
While Brussels has managed to cover Ukraine's financial needs for the entire year, the supply of weaponry after the summer remains uncertain.
"We must speed up the immediate delivery of weapons and ammunition. And this will be at the heart of our work in the coming weeks," von der Leyen told a group of media outlets, including Euronews, on her way to the city.
"We believe in a free and sovereign Ukraine on its path towards the European Union."
Von der Leyen is also set to announce an initiative to integrate Ukraine and Moldova into the bloc's electricity market by the end of the year.
She is joined in Kyiv by her College of European Commissioners, who are scheduled to meet with their counterparts from the Ukrainian government to deepen ties.
Other Western leaders, such as European Council President António Costa, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, will also be at the Ukrainian capital to mark the solemn anniversary. They will jointly meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reaffirm their solidarity and support.
The visit is the ninth von der Leyen has made to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, but comes against a sharply different backdrop from her previous trips.
European capitals are nervously watching as Donald Trump's attempts to launch a peace process between Ukraine and Russia have upended three years of transatlantic policy.
Tensions are running high after Trump lashed out at Zelenskyy, calling him a "dictator without elections" and blaming the invasion on Ukraine, rather than Russia. The remarks, which aligned with the Kremlin's talking points, prompted outrage in Europe and cast serious doubts about Trump's ability, or willingness, to moderate peace talks.
Despite the backlash, the Republican president has shown no appetite for toning it down.
"I've been watching this man (Zelenskyy) for years now, as his cities get demolished, as his people get killed, as the soldiers get decimated," Trump said last week in an interview. "I've been watching for years, and I've been watching him negotiate with no cards. He has no cards, and you get sick of it. You just get sick of it. And I've had it."
Zelenskyy later said he would be willing to step down as president if it meant peace and NATO membership for his country. "I'm focused on Ukraine's security today, not in 20 years, and I have no intention of staying in power for a decade. This is my focus and my greatest aspiration," he said in a press conference.
Since Trump held a 90-minute phone call on 12 February with Vladimir Putin, uncoordinated with allies, Brussels has been trying to find its place in the fast-moving chain of events to ensure its interests and concerns are taken into account.
Last week saw a flurry of diplomatic activity, with calls and meetings between European leaders to close ranks and solidify political unity. More talks are already under way: Macron will fly to Washington to meet face-to-face with Trump and Costa will host an emergency summit of all 27 EU leaders on 6 March.
During that summit, von der Leyen intends to present a "comprehensive plan" to scale up arms production and defence capabilities across the bloc, which could also "benefit" Ukraine by bringing fresh weaponry into the fight against Russian troops, she said.
It's unclear if the blueprint will suffice to convince the White House that Europe deserves a seat at the negotiating table. Despite the continent seeing its long-term security intrinsically linked to Ukraine's stability, so far it has been sidelined from the negotiations.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has tried to reassure democratic allies by keeping them updated on his contacts with Russia and insisting the outreach does not represent an abrupt departure in America's foreign policy. Rubio has said Europeans would be invited to the table when the time comes to grant sanctions relief to the Kremlin.
On her way to Kyiv, von der Leyen raised the bar for offering Putin any concessions. "We will increase punitive sanctions against Russia unless they demonstrate true willingness to achieve a lasting peace agreement," she said.
"A free and sovereign Ukraine is in the interest of the entire world."
Copyright Evgeniy Maloletka/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved
By Jorge Liboreiro
Published on 24/02/2025 -
Ursula von der Leyen's ninth visit to Kyiv since the start of the full-scale invasion to meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyy comes amid US attempts to negotiate end to war bilaterally with Russia.
Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv by train on Monday morning to mark the third anniversary of the start of Russia's war against Ukraine and as Donald Trump's big push for negotiations rattles European allies, stoking fears a rushed deal could leave the entire continent vulnerable to the Kremlin's expansionism.
The president of the European Commission is expected to unveil a €3.5 billion package of financial aid to inject additional liquidity into Ukraine's strained budget and facilitate the purchase of military equipment from its domestic industry.
The €3.5 billion is an advance on a larger €50-billion assistance fund that the European Union established in early 2024, dubbed "the Ukraine Facility".
While Brussels has managed to cover Ukraine's financial needs for the entire year, the supply of weaponry after the summer remains uncertain.
"We must speed up the immediate delivery of weapons and ammunition. And this will be at the heart of our work in the coming weeks," von der Leyen told a group of media outlets, including Euronews, on her way to the city.
"We believe in a free and sovereign Ukraine on its path towards the European Union."
Von der Leyen is also set to announce an initiative to integrate Ukraine and Moldova into the bloc's electricity market by the end of the year.
She is joined in Kyiv by her College of European Commissioners, who are scheduled to meet with their counterparts from the Ukrainian government to deepen ties.
Other Western leaders, such as European Council President António Costa, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, will also be at the Ukrainian capital to mark the solemn anniversary. They will jointly meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reaffirm their solidarity and support.
The visit is the ninth von der Leyen has made to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, but comes against a sharply different backdrop from her previous trips.
European capitals are nervously watching as Donald Trump's attempts to launch a peace process between Ukraine and Russia have upended three years of transatlantic policy.
Tensions are running high after Trump lashed out at Zelenskyy, calling him a "dictator without elections" and blaming the invasion on Ukraine, rather than Russia. The remarks, which aligned with the Kremlin's talking points, prompted outrage in Europe and cast serious doubts about Trump's ability, or willingness, to moderate peace talks.
Despite the backlash, the Republican president has shown no appetite for toning it down.
"I've been watching this man (Zelenskyy) for years now, as his cities get demolished, as his people get killed, as the soldiers get decimated," Trump said last week in an interview. "I've been watching for years, and I've been watching him negotiate with no cards. He has no cards, and you get sick of it. You just get sick of it. And I've had it."
Zelenskyy later said he would be willing to step down as president if it meant peace and NATO membership for his country. "I'm focused on Ukraine's security today, not in 20 years, and I have no intention of staying in power for a decade. This is my focus and my greatest aspiration," he said in a press conference.
Since Trump held a 90-minute phone call on 12 February with Vladimir Putin, uncoordinated with allies, Brussels has been trying to find its place in the fast-moving chain of events to ensure its interests and concerns are taken into account.
Last week saw a flurry of diplomatic activity, with calls and meetings between European leaders to close ranks and solidify political unity. More talks are already under way: Macron will fly to Washington to meet face-to-face with Trump and Costa will host an emergency summit of all 27 EU leaders on 6 March.
During that summit, von der Leyen intends to present a "comprehensive plan" to scale up arms production and defence capabilities across the bloc, which could also "benefit" Ukraine by bringing fresh weaponry into the fight against Russian troops, she said.
It's unclear if the blueprint will suffice to convince the White House that Europe deserves a seat at the negotiating table. Despite the continent seeing its long-term security intrinsically linked to Ukraine's stability, so far it has been sidelined from the negotiations.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has tried to reassure democratic allies by keeping them updated on his contacts with Russia and insisting the outreach does not represent an abrupt departure in America's foreign policy. Rubio has said Europeans would be invited to the table when the time comes to grant sanctions relief to the Kremlin.
On her way to Kyiv, von der Leyen raised the bar for offering Putin any concessions. "We will increase punitive sanctions against Russia unless they demonstrate true willingness to achieve a lasting peace agreement," she said.
"A free and sovereign Ukraine is in the interest of the entire world."
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