Ukraine war latest: US ‘ends intelligence sharing’ – Starmer insists Trump ‘reliable’

Germany’s outgoing chancellor, Olaf Scholz, affirmed during a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that US president Donald Trump had a key role in negotiations with Russia, according to a German government spokesperson.

“The chancellor welcomed the Ukrainian president’s willingness to enter into negotiations at the earliest possible date”, the spokesperson said.

“Both agreed on the importance of the U.S. president’s leadership role, also with a view to achieving a swift start to a ceasefire and lasting peace for Ukraine”, it added.

Scholz also reiterated Germany’s continued and unwavering solidarity with Ukraine during the call, added the spokesperson.

US president Donald Trump will consider restoring aid to Ukraine if peace talks are arranged and confidence-building measures are taken, White House national security adviser Mike Waltz said on Wednesday.

“I think if we can nail down these negotiations and move towards these negotiations, and in fact, put some confidence-building measures on the table, then the president will take a hard look at lifting this pause,” Mr Waltz said in an interview with Fox News.

A United States led by President Donald Trump is a “reliable ally”, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey told the Commons: “On Monday, the Prime Minister rightly said a minerals deal only was not a sufficient security guarantee for Ukraine.

“But since then, the Trump administration has said that a minerals deal is the only guarantee on the table and President Trump has removed military aid from Ukraine and said that the British cannot share American intelligence with Kyiv. Both those decisions mean more brave Ukrainians will die and further embolden Vladimir Putin.

“So, can the Prime Minister tell the House, does he still believe that President Trump is a reliable ally, and if Ukraine does not get a sufficient security guarantee from this White House, what is the Prime Minister’s plan B?”

Sir Keir replied: “We work very closely with the United States on defence, on security and on intelligence. We have done for many, many years, we are intertwined, and of course they are a reliable ally. We are operating on basis day-in, day-out across the world, as he knows.”

The Prime Minister added: “Our main focus, our only focus, is on a lasting peace in Ukraine. There are many moving parts, there are many discussions to be had, but what I’m doing is staying focused on what I think is the single most important outcome, which is a lasting peace in Ukraine which is good for Ukraine, for Europe, and of course essential for the United Kingdom.”

The UK must never choose between the US and Europe, the Prime Minister has said.

Sir Keir Starmer said the UK, US, Europe and Ukraine needed to work together over the conflict against Russia.

He was asked by Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch: “I know the Prime Minister is not able to comment on specific intelligence matters, and I’m certainly not asking him to do that.

“But there are concerning reports that the United States has instructed Britain to suspend intelligence-sharing with Ukraine and other reports that Five Eyes itself may be at risk.

“We need to make sure that America does not disengage. There are some in this house who argue Europe should go it alone. But does he agree with me that without this country’s greatest ally, any peace agreement would place a terrible burden on Britain and our taxpayers?”

Sir Keir replied: “I agree with her wholeheartedly and that’s why in the debate we had just two days ago I’ve always been clear that we need to ensure that the US, the UK, Europe and Ukraine are working together, but we must not choose between the US and Europe, we never have historically, and we’re not going to do so now.”

For the second time this week Sir Keir Starmer has taken aim at the SNP for wanting to scrap Britain’s nuclear deterrent.

This is a long running issue with the submarines based at Faslane in the west of Scotland.

But as the world becomes much more uncertain again with growing worries about Putin’s Russia then the nuclear weapons are being put front and centre by the PM.

Of course, this is a dramatic change from his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn who has always opposed Britain having nuclear weapons and has been a leading member of CND.

The issue has always divided Labour and the left generally but Starmer is clearly making it a major issue.

The United States has cut off intelligence-sharing with Kyiv in a move that could seriously hamper the Ukrainian military’s ability to target Russian forces, the Financial Times has reported.

It comes after Donald Trump decided to cut off military aid for the wartorn country.

Reports of the US ending intelligence sharing have been raised in prime minister’s questions, with MPs repeatedly asking Keir Starmer if Washington is still a reliable ally.

Asked to ensure the UK will not be “drawn into war” with Russia, Sir Keir Starmer said “the surest risk” of conflict is “if Putin thinks that he can breach” a peace deal in Ukraine.

Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch said: “All of us in this House know that the British armed forces are a huge source of pride to our country. They put themselves in harm’s way to defend our values.

“As the Opposition, we support efforts to resolve this conflict, but we cannot write a blank cheque. If British peacekeeping troops in Ukraine were attacked, whether directly or via proxies, we could be drawn into conflict with Russia. Can the Prime Minister reassure all those who are concerned about the UK being drawn into war?”

The Prime Minister replied: “Yes, that’s the last thing anybody wants to see and the whole point of ensuring that there’s a lasting peace and that any deal, if there’s a deal, is defended, is to avoid conflict, to ensure that we do have peace.

“The way to ensure we have peace is to ensure there are guarantees for any deal that is in place, because the surest risk, that will be conflict is if Putin thinks that he can breach any deal that may be arrived at.”

Sir Keir Starmer has said he spoke to US president Donald Trump about security guarantees in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.

Sir Keir said it is clear that Trump “has our backs”.

The PM added he has spoken to Trump three times since Monday to make sure there are proper security guarantees.