Starmer’s balancing act: Sir Keir toes political tightrope as Europe is ‘frozen out’ of Ukraine peace talks but PM insists he can still be ‘bridge to the US’ at emergency talks in Paris tomorrow

Keir Starmer faces a massive task to act as a ‘bridge’ with Donald Trump as European leaders brace for a crisis summit on Ukraine tomorrow.

The PM is arguing he can be a conduit between the US and its allies amid mounting alarm at Mr Trump entering unilateral discussions with Vladimir Putin.

French president Emmanuel Macron is hosting an emergency gathering in Paris after the White House’s special envoy Keith Kellogg said European leaders will not have a place at the negotiating table.

Leaders from the UK, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark will attend along with the presidents of the European Council and European Commission and the secretary general of Nato. 

Sir Keir is then proposing to take the message from Europe to the US when he visits Mr Trump, likely next week.

A further meeting of European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, will happen when Sir Keir returns from Washington.

Keir Starmer faces a massive task to act as a ‘bridge’ with Donald Trump as European leaders brace for a crisis summit on Ukraine tomorrow

The PM is arguing he can be a conduit between the US and its allies amid mounting alarm at Mr Trump entering unilateral discussions with Vladimir Putin 

French president Emmanuel Macron is hosting an emergency gathering in Paris after the White House’s special envoy Keith Kellogg said European leaders will not have a place at the negotiating table

Sir Keir said: ‘This is a once-in-a-generation moment for our national security where we engage with the reality of the world today and the threat we face from Russia.

‘It’s clear Europe must take on a greater role in Nato as we work with the United States to secure Ukraine’s future and face down the threat we face from Russia.

‘The UK will work to ensure we keep the US and Europe together. We cannot allow any divisions in the alliance to distract from the external enemies we face.’

However, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds acknowledged that Sir Keir does not have an ‘easy’ job.

He told BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: ‘There is definitely, from the US administration, a view towards Europe and there’s a slightly different view towards ourselves in the UK.

‘Both markets, both allies, will always be fundamentally important to us but I do think we can play a constructive role in this.

‘I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, there’s a very assertive agenda from the US.’

Tensions have emerged between Mr Trump and Europe on a range of issues, including his plans for ‘beautiful’ trade tariffs.  

Concerns were heightened yesterday when retired general Mr Kellogg told the Munich Security Conference that negotiations would be between Russia and Ukraine, with Mr Trump acting as mediator – although he stressed Europe could have some input.

‘To think that he’s going to do this alone is wrong, we never said that,’ Mr Kellogg said.

In his keynote speech yesterday, Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky said ‘we can’t rule out the possibility that America might say no to Europe on issues that threaten it’.

Mr Zelensky said: ‘A few days ago, President Trump told me about his conversation with Putin. Not once did he mention that America needs Europe at the table. That says a lot.

‘The old days are over when America supported Europe just because it always had.’

He said the ‘time has come, the armed forces of Europe must be created’.

Mr Zelensky said: ‘Ukraine will never accept deals made behind our backs without our involvement.’ 

Chaos erupted after Mr Trump and the Russian dictator had ‘a lengthy and highly productive’ phone conversation last week, during which they agreed that talks to end the conflict should start ‘immediately’.

Washington has signalled that any peace deal is expected to see Russia keep territory it has annexed since 2014, including the Crimean peninsula – a huge blow to Kyiv after three years of fighting for freedom. 

There was also deep disquiet that Ukraine joining Nato – an official policy of the alliance – had been effectively ruled out. 

Sir Keir put himself on a potential collision course with Mr Trump by telling Mr Zelensky in a call on Friday that Kyiv is on an ‘irreversible path’ to joining Nato.

The US has heaped pressure on European powers to hike their military spending. 

According to the Sunday Times, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is still resisting increasing defence budgets above 2.3 per cent of GDP in the looming spending review.

However, Downing Street sources have been stressing that the final decision lies with the PM. 

Defence chiefs are said to have been arguing for 2.65 per cent, above Labour’s target of 2.5 per cent – a level for which there is currently no timetable to reach.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy indicated his support for faster rises on Friday, pointing out that during the Cold War spending had hit 7 per cent of GDP.

Mr Trump and the Russian dictator (pictured) had ‘a lengthy and highly productive’ phone conversation last week, during which they agreed that talks to end the conflict should start ‘immediately’

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted his country will never expect a peace deal done without its involvement

Mr Reynolds said: ‘The whole Cabinet, the whole Government, I think most people in this country recognise the pressures the world is under, recognise more will have to be spent on defence.

‘Now the spending review will set out the roadmap towards that target.’

He told Sky News: ‘The Chancellor knows more than most people the pressures on public services across the board, but defence has to be the cornerstone of our national prosperity as well as our security.

‘There’s a whole range of things the UK does. Our contribution to the intelligence services, for instance, should be considered, I think, as part of that contribution to collective Western security.’

The UK is already one of the biggest contributors in Nato, with US frustration previously aimed at countries such as Germany. 

US officials and Russian counterparts are expected to hold talks in Saudi Arabia ahead of an anticipated meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Putin.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Mr Vance suggested that the erosion of free speech in Europe was a bigger threat than Russia

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