This came according to what was reported by the British newspaper “The Telegraph”, which followed that Starmer and Macron are holding talks on enhancing arms supplies before the new administration arrives at the White House, in order to thwart the efforts of President-elect Donald Trump to reduce American support for Ukraine.
The newspaper reported, citing informed sources within the British government, that the two leaders will discuss on Monday whether it is possible to convince Joe Biden to allow Ukraine to launch “Storm Shadow” missiles deep into Russian territory.
The sources told the newspaper that London holds hopes that Biden will finally grant the approval that Kiev has been seeking for months in an attempt to secure his legacy in foreign policy.
The talks will take place in Paris, where Sir Keir will become the first British leader to attend an Armistice Day ceremony in the city since Winston Churchill in 1944. They are also expected to discuss the indirect impact of Trump’s impending presidency on the Middle East and the possibility of a trade war with Europe.
These efforts come at a time when world leaders tried to find out how radically Trump intends to change US policy towards Ukraine, while Trump had previously announced an end to the Ukraine war “on day one” throughout his presidential campaign, which raised fears that he would force Kiev to accept… Loss of territory to Russia.
A senior British government source said: “We are very keen to make sure we can make the most of the time between now and January 20 when Mr Trump becomes president of the United States, and not just postpone everything until the next administration.”
Another source said Biden is expected to “turn on the taps” by delivering more financial aid owed to Kiev in the weeks before he leaves the White House.
Concerns surrounding Trump’s Ukraine plans were heightened over the weekend with news that Mike Pompeo and Nikki Haley, former members of the pro-Ukraine Cabinet in his first administration, would not be given positions this time around.
At the same time, the president-elect’s son, Donald Trump Jr., said there was no place in his father’s administration for “war hawks,” another indication that a radical change in approach may be on the way.
In a post on Instagram last Saturday, Trump Jr. posted a video in which he appears to be mocking Vladimir Zelensky because of his loss of his American “allotments” when his father returns to the White House.
In the video, Zelensky appears unhappy next to Trump, with the following caption: “Point of view: You are 38 days away from losing your allowance.”
Trump ally and candidate for a position in the White House, Elbridge Colby, said yesterday, Sunday, that Trump will “end the Ukraine war” and make sure that “our NATO allies make the switch.”
The Washington Post reported that the president-elect asked Russia not to escalate the war in Ukraine in a phone call last Thursday. Sources also told the newspaper that Trump expressed interest in follow-up talks to discuss “resolving the war in Ukraine soon.”
In turn, Sir Keir pledged to work closely with Mr. Trump, despite the latter’s previous criticism of British government ministers, including Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.
However, Sir Keir’s plan may seem to Trump to be an attempt to undermine American foreign policy during his era, which may anger him and threaten the relationship between Washington and London even before Trump takes office next January.
Since Trump’s election victory, Biden has tried to secure American support for Ukraine, as the White House said on Thursday that he would continue to “increase” humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine using funds already approved by Congress.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Sunday that Biden will pressure Trump not to abandon Ukraine when they meet next Wednesday. He continued: “President Biden will have the opportunity, during the next 70 days, to present the case to Congress and the next administration that the United States should not turn away from Ukraine, while it threatens to further destabilize Europe.”
Discussions about whether Ukraine should be allowed to launch Storm Shadow missiles, made in the United Kingdom and France, deep into Russian territory have raged for months behind the scenes, and the missiles require American technology to be fully effective.
It is understood that Ukraine is currently allowed to use missiles only in limited circumstances on Russian territory, such as only striking forces on the border, although the details of any agreements have never been revealed publicly.
For months, Zelensky has demanded permission to launch missiles deep into Russian territory, because, as he put it, this would help prevent Russian planes from taking off before bombing Ukraine. In this regard, informed British government sources said that Sir Keir and Mr. Macron became supportive of this earlier this year.
Previous hopes that Biden would approve the use of missiles were dashed last September due to fears of retaliatory attacks on Western military bases. While US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in favor of this move, Sullivan was against it, fearing that it might lead to an escalation of the confrontation with Russia, and further complicate the situation with the United States, according to the State Department’s analysis of internal discussions.
If Kiev obtains permission to launch “Storm Shadow” missiles against deep Russian territory before Trump takes office, it will be difficult to revoke the approval.
On Monday, Sir Keir is scheduled to hold a short meeting with new French Prime Minister Michel Barnier, who was the European Union’s negotiator on Britain’s exit from the European Union.
Sir Keir hopes to negotiate a defense and security agreement with the European Union in the new year, another issue he is expected to discuss with Macron.
British Treasury Secretary Darren Jones failed yesterday, Sunday, to make a promise to achieve the Labor Party’s ambition to spend 2.5% of GDP on defense during the next five years.
British Prime Minister Starmer Kerr is attending the Armistice Day celebration in Paris on the occasion of the 120th anniversary of the friendly agreement, and the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the liberation of France, where he said in this regard: “I am honored to be in Paris to stand united with President Macron in honor of the victims of World War I, who gave The ultimate sacrifice for the freedom we enjoy today.”
Source: Telegraph
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**Interview with Political Analyst Sarah Thompson on the Upcoming Keir Starmer-Emmanuel Macron Talks**
**Interviewer:** Good afternoon, Sarah! Thanks for joining us today. There’s significant news regarding UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron’s upcoming talks. Can you give us a brief overview of what’s at stake?
**Sarah Thompson:** Good afternoon! Absolutely. The discussions between Starmer and Macron will focus on bolstering arms supplies to Ukraine, specifically the potential use of ‘Storm Shadow’ missiles against Russian targets. This meeting is particularly crucial as the leaders aim to solidify support for Ukraine before Donald Trump takes office in January, which many fear could shift U.S. policy towards a less supportive stance.
**Interviewer:** So, the timing is critical. What are the concerns about Donald Trump’s presidency regarding Ukraine?
**Sarah Thompson:** The concerns stem from Trump’s previous comments about wanting to end the Ukraine war quickly and his administration’s previous hesitancy to fully support Ukraine militarily. There’s anxiety that he might pressure Ukraine into concessions, particularly around territorial integrity, which could embolden Russia.
**Interviewer:** Right, and how does this connect with President Biden’s current actions?
**Sarah Thompson:** President Biden is expected to ramp up aid to Ukraine in the remaining weeks of his presidency, which may include financial support and weapons shipments. His administration is trying to reinforce Ukraine’s position ahead of Trump’s administration to prevent a drastic shift in U.S. policy.
**Interviewer:** What role do you think the discussions in Paris will play in the broader context of European security?
**Sarah Thompson:** These talks are essential for maintaining a united front in Europe against Russian aggression. By strengthening arms support to Ukraine, both Britain and France are sending a clear message to Moscow that they are committed to preventing further escalation. Their discussions also aim to pave the way for a cooperative strategy that may mitigate any abrupt changes Trump could implement regarding NATO and U.S. foreign policy.
**Interviewer:** It seems like a delicate balancing act. What are the implications if Starmer and Macron can’t convince Biden to allow Ukraine to use those missiles?
**Sarah Thompson:** If they cannot secure that approval, it could limit Ukraine’s ability to effectively respond to Russian attacks, giving Moscow an advantage. Furthermore, it may embolden Trump and his team to further diminish U.S. support for Ukraine, undermining European security and possibly escalating the conflict.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Sarah, for your insights on this pivotal meeting. It will certainly be interesting to see how these discussions influence international dynamics in the coming months.
**Sarah Thompson:** Thank you for having me! It’s a critical time for global security, and I look forward to seeing how these negotiations unfold.
