Politics latest: ‘Significant shift’ as PM says UK will work to ‘put Ukraine in strongest possible position for negotiations’

By Dominic Waghorn, international affairs editor

Sir Keir Starmer has now for the first time tonight said it was British policy to “put Ukraine in the strongest possible position for negotiations”.

He wants Ukraine to be in a position of strength “so they can secure a just and lasting peace on their terms that guarantees their security, independence – and right to choose their own future” (see previous post).

But make no mistake. This is a significant shift.

Only last month, both Sir Keir and French leader Emmanuel Macron were promising to “support Ukraine unwaveringly and for as long as necessary to thwart Russia’s war of aggression”.

In the summer, his predecessor Rishi Sunak stated British policy on Ukraine was based on the principle that “aggression cannot and will not prevail” while also talking of a just and lasting peace, based on international law and the UN Charter.

If negotiations happen and settle on some kind of compromise, as they always do, Russian aggression will have prevailed to some extent at least.

‘For some, Starmer’s words will be overhasty’

If Russia, as many seem to expect, walks away with de facto control of at least part of the chunk of Ukraine they have taken by force and win a commitment Ukraine will not join NATO for the foreseeable future, Vladimir Putin will have been vindicated at least in part.

His decision to wield naked, unprovoked, brutal aggression against a neighbour will have achieved some of its ends.

That western leaders are now talking about negotiations between Ukraine and Russia will, say critics, be a sign of their abject failure to “thwart Russian aggression”.

The West failed to deter Russia from invading Ukraine, hoping that the threat of “swift, punitive” financial sanctions would suffice. Then it failed to act with sufficient urgency and unity to help Ukraine repeal that invasion.

Russia may be reaching the limit of its ability to support a war that it is undoubtedly winning, drafting in North Korean and Yemeni troops to avoid an unpopular second mobilisation of Russians. And with inflation soaring, the Russian economy is creaking.

But US president-elect Donald Trump seems determined to press on and expedite negotiations and other leaders, including Ukraine’s own and now Britain’s seem ready to accept their inevitability.

For some, Starmer’s words will be overhasty. They would prefer Europe hold the line – even if the US is about to walk away from giving Ukraine the military support it’s relied on for two years.