Starmer demands $20 billion from Biden to Kyiv
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will demand that Joe Biden allocate $20 billion to Ukraine from frozen Russian assets before Donald Trump takes office. In addition, he demands permission for Kyiv to launch Storm Shadow strikes on Russian territory.
This was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to The Telegraph.
According to the newspaper, Starmer insists on holding personal talks with Biden, the outgoing US president, when they both attend the G20 summit in Brazil next week.
Mr. Starmer is also expected to say that Ukraine should finally be allowed to launch long-range Storm Shadow missiles deep into Russian territory, which Biden opposes.
Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the issue of changing the US position on Storm Shadows during talks in Paris on November 11. The two leaders spent 20 minutes talking face-to-face about Ukraine, while a large delegation of aides was not present in the room, a sign of the political sensitivity of the discussions.
“The leaders began by discussing the situation in Ukraine, including how best to ensure that Ukraine is in the strongest possible position before winter,” the source said.
The Storm Shadow missiles are manufactured in the UK and France, but American systems may be used in deployment.
Ukraine is authorized to use them to strike at the border with Russia, but not inland.
Western allies appear to be working on two fronts-money and arms-to try to get Biden to go more supportive of Ukraine than is planned for his last two months in office.
In European capitals, there are fears that Trump, who will return to the White House on January 20, will force Ukraine to permanently give up Russian-held territories in exchange for a peace deal.
Trump vowed to end the war in Russia-invaded Ukraine on the first day of his presidency and criticized Biden's billions of dollars of support for Kyiv.
The G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro early next week could be crucial as allies discuss accelerating support for Ukraine. Mr. Starmer, Biden and Macron will be there.
Author - Olena Madiak, 12/11/2024
