YEREVAN, Armenia — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held pre-summit talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Yerevan on Sunday ahead of the start of a meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) hosted by the Armenian capital.
“As ever, I send a message of support of the United Kingdom to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, and salute the continued courage and bravery both on the front line and the civilians,” Starmer said.
“Every time, across the United Kingdom, we think of Ukraine, we think of front line and the civilians. So we stand with you. We’re ready to do the necessary work tomorrow with the bigger group on the support you need, the pressure we need to continue to put on Russia to make sure that we get a just and lasting peace — the one that is right for Ukraine.”
The leaders discussed Ukraine’s momentum on the battlefield, a Downing Street spokesperson said in a statement, and both agreed on the importance of stepping up defence-industrial collaboration with European partners to defend Ukraine for as long as it takes.
The EPC meeting on Monday will see a gathering of nearly 50 heads of state and government, including Britain, Norway, Switzerland, and Ukraine.
EU leaders and Zelenskyy are slated to attend the meeting. French President Emmanuel Macron will be present and will stay in the country for an official state visit until Tuesday.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has also been invited to attend the summit, marking the first time that a non-European country is taking part in the event.
Source: Reuters
