Macron, Starmer Seek Increased Support for Ukraine

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are actively working to bolster support for Ukraine ahead of Donald Trump's imminent return to the White House, amid concerns he may reduce U.S. aid. During their recent meeting in Paris, they discussed strategies to persuade President Biden to allow Ukraine to launch strikes deep into Russian territory using American-supplied weapons, seen as a crucial step before Trump's inauguration. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to support Ukraine 'for as long as necessary' to stop Russian aggression, emphasizing the need to strengthen Ukraine's position as winter approaches. The discussions also included the possibility of Ukraine receiving long-range Storm Shadow missiles, but no definitive agreement was reached. Starmer expressed that full support for Ukraine remains a priority, while there are apprehensions about potential changes in U.S. policy under Trump. The urgency of their discussions reflects the heightened stakes as the Ukraine conflict continues to escalate.