Keir Starmer is to visit British troops serving on Russia’s border after saying that Ukraine will require more funding and capability.
The prime minister was speaking at the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) conference in Estonia, where he met leaders of other Baltic states.
Asked what else could be done to support Ukraine, Starmer said: “There is an ever-increasing demand for more capability.
“That is understandable, and Ukraine needs all the capability that it can get, so I think all of us have put in more capability into Ukraine by way of equipment.”
The Labour leader added: “A lot of money has been raised, funding has been raised, but more is going to be needed.”
After signing an energy partnership with the Norwegian prime minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, in Bergen, Starmer flew to Estonia where he spoke alongside Støre and their Estonian counterpart, Kristen Michal.
Starmer also discussed making the economic case at home for continued support for Ukraine.
He said: “Making the case on the significance of Ukraine, making the case, to double down, linking it back to each of our countries – what does it mean for us if Russia succeeds, is a really important question that we have to answer with our people, to make it clear why it is that we are so supportive of Ukraine, why it is that we must stand with our allies on this, why it is we must make sure that Nato is put in the strongest position as well.
“Now, this is a different world to the world of 10, 20 years ago, to recognise the world that we are living in, there’s a positive case as well to be made.
“Defence spending doesn’t sort of sit in a silo over here with no effect on the rest of the economy, no effect on technology.
“It has a huge effect on technologies, the cutting edge of technology and change, which can then be used in other areas.
“It binds countries together. I think all of us have got joint projects on in terms of defence capabilities that bind us together.”
The prime minister will again attend the JEF summit, joining leaders from the Nordics and Baltics to discuss support for Ukraine, the sustained threat posed by Russia and wider European security.
He will then visit British troops serving in the region to deter Russian forces.
