Starmer reveals plans for new defence pact with EU

The UK must coordinate with its allies to support Ukraine, the PM tells political correspondent Millie Cooke in Tallinn

- Millie Cooke

Sir Keir Starmer has for the first time lifted the lid on his Brexit reset plans for a new defence pact with the EU.

It came as the prime minister issued a rallying call to the European Union for closer defence cooperation in an exclusive interview with The Independent. As Sir Keir prepares for a Donald Trump presidency with the potential withdrawal of US support from Ukraine and Europe, he shared his vision for coordination across funding, training and the use of British troops.

Sitting down with The Independent in Estonia, the prime minister said the UK must work “as effectively as we can with our partners” to bolster Ukraine’s position amid an increasingly volatile global landscape and heightened tensions with Russia.

His remarks come as the Kremlin threatens retaliation after Ukraine claimed responsibility for the scooter-bomb assassination of a top Russian general in Moscow yesterday morning.

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, said Ukraine faces imminent revenge for the “cowardly and despicable” action, the RIA state news agency reported, after Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov and his assistant were killed in the strike.

Sir Keir, who was in Tallinn for the two-day Joint Expeditionary Force summit, has previously said he wants a defence and security pact with the EU, something he said would be complementary to Nato.