Keir Starmer has pledged that Ukraine will be 'top of my agenda' at the G20 summit in Brazil, which Russian President Vladimir Putin has declined to attend. Speaking to reporters en route, the Prime Minister said he had 'no plans' to follow Olaf Scholz in speaking directly to Putin, as the world approaches the 1,000th day of Russia's full-scale invasion.
Starmer highlighted the use of North Korean troops by Russia as a 'particularly disturbing development', calling it a sign of desperation that also poses serious implications for European and Indo-Pacific security. He stressed the need to 'double-down on shoring up our support for Ukraine'.
The summit comes as Russia launched its largest attack on Ukraine since August, firing over 200 missiles and drones targeting the energy grid overnight. Divisions among G20 leaders are acute, with the imminent return of Donald Trump to the White House casting uncertainty over future US funding for Ukraine.
Starmer denied the meeting was futile, pointing to his goal of securing inward investment for the UK. He will meet leaders including Xi Jinping, Narendra Modi, and Joe Biden, while Argentine President Javier Milei—a close Trump ally—is reportedly mounting obstacles to a formal communique.
