London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, May 31, 2025

Ukraine war: Starmer meets Nato troops on Estonia visit

Ukraine war: Starmer meets Nato troops on Estonia visit

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said his party "stands steadfast in solidarity with Ukraine", as he visits Estonia.

He met Nato troops stationed in the country, which also shares a border with Russia, during a trip marking 15 days since the invasion of Ukraine.

Sir Keir also held talks with Estonian Defence Minister Kalle Laanet.

His visit comes as the Army says a small number of soldiers have disobeyed orders and gone to Ukraine to fight.

Estonia, which has a 183-mile (294km) border with Russia, is a full Nato member, but President Alar Karis has warned that Mr Putin's government could use hybrid warfare, including cyber attacks, against his people.

Sir Keir and shadow defence secretary John Healey met Colonel Dai Bevan, who commands Nato Enhanced Forward Presence in Estonia, at the Tapa base in the north of the country.

They had lunch with troops there and are returning to the capital Talinn to speak to MPs at the Estonian Parliament.

Sir Keir said: "We are talking to the troops about their operations and taking the opportunity to thank them for the work they are doing."

He added that Labour wanted to express its "unshakeable commitment to Nato".

Boris Johnson visited the Tapa base last week


The British Army said a small number of soldiers had "disobeyed orders and gone absent without leave" and may have travelled to Ukraine "in a personal capacity".

There is no suggestion those involved were from the Tapa base.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has warned soldiers could face prosecution for desertion if they travel to Ukraine to fight the Russian army.

Sir Keir, while supporting the UK's military stance on Ukraine, called on the government to do more to help refugees.

Asked about Russia's air strike on a hospital in the city of Mariupol, in which Ukrainian officials say three people, including a child, were killed, Sir Keir said: "There are clearly international criminal offences being committed.

"There needs to be accountability and responsibility for that."

The White House says Mr Putin, who has nuclear weapons at his disposal, could be planning a biological or chemical attack in Ukraine.

Sir Keir warned against escalating tensions between Nato and Russia and said it was important to avoid discussing "hypotheticals" at the moment.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
Chinese Woman Dies After Being Forced to Visit Bank Despite Critical Illness
President Trump Grants Full Pardons to Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley
Texas Enacts App Store Accountability Act Mandating Age Verification
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Vatican Calls for Sustainable Tourism in 2025 Message
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on iPhones Amid Dispute with Apple CEO
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
Liverpool Car Ramming Incident Leaves Multiple Injured
Australia Faces Immigration Debate Following Labor Party Victory
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
Macron Dismisses Viral Video of Wife's Gesture as Playful Banter
Cleveland Clinic Study Questions Effectiveness of Recent Flu Vaccine
Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
Junior Doctors Threaten Strike Over 4% Pay Offer
Labour MPs Urge Chancellor to Tax Wealthy Over Cutting Welfare
Publication of UK Child Poverty Strategy Delayed Until Autumn
France Detains UK Fishing Vessel Amid Post-Brexit Tensions
Calls Grow to Resume Syrian Asylum Claims in UK
Nigel Farage Pledges to Reinstate Winter Fuel Payments
Boris and Carrie Johnson Welcome Daughter Poppy
×