UK premier calls on EU to step up Ukraine aid to stabilise situation on frontline

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged European Union countries to “step up” their support for Ukraine during a visit to Brussels on February 3.

The call comes amid growing concerns over the shifting stance of the United States under President Donald Trump, who recently suspended non-military aid through USAID and threatened cuts to military assistance, a critical lifeline for Ukraine amidst Russia's ongoing invasion, Caliber.Az reports, citing European media.

In a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Starmer stressed the need for continued international pressure on Russia. "Peace will come through strength, and we must do all that we can to support Ukraine’s defence," he declared.

Starmer announced that the UK would provide record military support to Ukraine in 2025, focusing on fortifying Ukraine's front lines and providing essential military equipment and training.

The British prime minister also commented on Trump’s potential impact on Russia’s economy. “We know that he’s worried about the state of the Russian economy. So I’m here to work with our European partners on keeping up the pressure, targeting the energy revenues and the companies supplying these missile factories to crush Putin’s war machine,” he said.

Let us not forget that the European Union (EU) and its member states have been instrumental in providing substantial support to Ukraine since the onset of the conflict with Russia in February 2022.

Among the large-scale aid packages the EU provide Ukraine with, it can be noted that in January 2025, the EU announced a €148 million humanitarian aid package for Ukraine. Of this, €140 million is allocated for emergency assistance, including food, shelter, clean water, healthcare, and winter protection, focusing on vulnerable populations in the heavily war-impacted regions of eastern and southern Ukraine.

By Khagan Isayev