Brothers in arms...Starmer agrees with Macron to stand by Ukraine

SIR Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron pledged to put Ukraine in the "strongest possible position" against the Russian onslaught amid fears of the US withdrawing support for Kyiv following Donald Trump's election win.

- Martyn Brown and Steph Spyro

Sir Keir yesterday became the first British Prime Minister since Winston Churchill in 1944 to attend Armistice Day celebrations in Paris marking the end of the First World War.

He was there on the personal invitation of the French President to mark the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale between France and the UK, which paved the way for greater diplomatic co-operation between the two countries.

Their meeting followed suggestions that Britain and France could seek to persuade outgoing US President Joe Biden to grant Ukraine permission to use Storm Shadow missiles to strike into Russia.

Mr Biden is said to have blocked the UK from authorising their use over fears of retaliatory attacks on Western military bases.

A statement from the Elysee Palace said the two leaders had reaffirmed their commitment to "support Ukraine unwaveringly".

Downing Street said the pair discussed how to put Ukraine in "the strongest possible position going into the winter". But Sir Keir refused to confirm whether they discussed the use of Storm Shadows in Russian territory.

Support

Speaking later on his way to Azerbaijan for the COP29 climate summit, he said: "I've always said that we support Ukraine for as long as it takes, and we've stood by that.