Keir Starmer: I will ‘never choose’ between Europe and the United States

The prime minister has insisted that he will “never choose between” Europe and the United States.

The comment came as Keir Starmer delivered a statement to the commons, updating the House after a week of intensive diplomacy at home and abroad.

The PM reflected on the White House meeting between Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US president Donald Trump last Friday, which degenerated into a shouting match.

Starmer said: “My [diplomatic] efforts continued on Thursday when I met president Trump in the White House to strengthen our relationship with America.

“Now, what happened in his subsequent meeting with president Zelenskyy is something nobody in this House wants to see.”

He added: “But I do want to be crystal clear. We must strengthen our relationship with America for our security, for our technology, for our trade and investment.”

The prime minister suggested that those who wish to pick sides between Europe and the United States are “unserious”.

He said: “We will never choose between either side of the Atlantic. In fact, if anything, the past week has shown that that idea is totally unserious.

“Because while some people may enjoy the simplicity of taking a side, this week has shown with total clarity that the US is vital in securing the peace we all want to see in Ukraine.”

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