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UK Treasury Minister Darren Jones has stated that the UK government’s commitment to Ukraine is unwavering amidst fears that incoming US President Donald Trump may encourage the country to relinquish territory to Russia. Jones told BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, “Ukraine should be able to recover its country as it was previously structured” and that there should be no element of conceding to illegal invasions from Russia. The Conservative shadow foreign secretary, Dame Priti Patel, stated the UK had to find a shared way of working with the US on Ukraine.
Trump has described the Russia-Ukraine conflict as a burden on US resources and claimed that he could end the conflict “in a day.” Research written by two of his former national security advisors has suggested the US should continue to supply arms to Ukraine, but make the support conditional on it beginning peace talks with Russia. The West would promise to delay Ukraine’s entry into NATO, the military alliance of Western European and North American nations, to entice Russia. The advisors argued Ukraine should not concede its hopes of regaining its territory from Russia but should negotiate based on current frontlines.
Chief of the UK Defence Staff Sir Tony Radakin told the same programme that Russia has experienced its worst month for casualties since the start of the Ukraine conflict, with around 1,500 dying or being wounded daily. “This is for tiny increments of land, but there is no doubt that Russia is making tactical, territorial gains, and that is putting pressure on Ukraine,” he said. Russia is spending over 40% of its public expenditure on defence and security, which is taking a toll on the country.
The Labour government committed to increasing spending from 2.3% to 2.5% but hasn’t set a date for achieving the target. Jones said the government would not commit to a deadline until the strategic defence review of the armed forces was complete. On Ukraine, former Labour minister Lord Peter Mandelson believes the UK should work with the US to secure Ukraine’s future. Mandleson argued that could be done by building “stronger, deeper” economic relationships with the country, rather than discussing its possible NATO membership.
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