British PM Starmer urges Trump to stand with Ukraine

The United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer is urging President-elect Trump to stand with Ukraine in its war against Russia.

Starmer and Trump spoke on the phone Wednesday, their second call since Trump won the presidential election last month.

On the call, the prime minister congratulated Trump on his recent Cabinet nominations and “reiterated the need for allies to stand together with Ukraine,” a U.K. government statement about the call said.

Starmer noted that the Western allies must ensure Ukraine is in the “strongest possible position” in the face of continued Russian aggression as the war nears its three-year mark.

As tensions continue to rise in the Middle East, Starmer also “underscored the need to work together” to ensure peace and security in the region.

Both Starmer and Trump agreed they want to strengthen the relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States. The leaders said they looked forward to working together on international security and economic growth.

The U.K. readout said they agreed to keep in touch and meet in person at the “earliest opportunity.”

Earlier this week, Trump expressed confidence that he could settle the Russia-Ukraine war but also noted it would be more difficult than the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Trump said the war in Gaza would be in a “good place” when he takes office in January. But he said it would be “more difficult” to handle Russia and Ukraine.

Trump cited the complexity of the war, with the addition of North Korean troops aiding Russia. He also criticized the Biden administration’s move to authorize Ukraine to use long-range missiles that can strike deeper into Russia.

The president-elect has long promised to end the war in Ukraine in one day if he were reelected. His pledge has sparked fears that he might allow Russia to capture land inside Ukraine, but he has offered little details about how he may tackle the conflict.

The Hill has reached out to the Trump transition team for comment.