BREAKING: Keir Starmer voices horror over Ukrainian woman his daughter’s age pulled from rubble
Keir Starmer has told MPs he was horrified at the sight of a teenage girl being pulled from rubble in Ukraine – as he celebrated his own daughter’s birthday.
The Prime Minister described Vladimir Putin’s continued assaults on the war-torn nation as “abhorrent”. He told the Commons: “Last night as a family, we celebrated my daughter’s 15th birthday. Later, I saw images on the news of a young girl about the same age being pulled from the rubble of a building in Ukraine where her mother had just been killed. It’s abhorrent. It’s beyond belief.”
He will hold crucial discussions this afternoon with 36 members of the ‘coalition of the willing’ – nations working together to secure peace in Ukraine. The Prime Minister said he has held detailed talks with Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky in recent days.
He told MPs: “I welcome the continued efforts of the United States to end the war and stop the killing. The initial draft of the 28 point plan included points that were not acceptable, but also some very important elements that will be essential for a just and lasting peace.
“For example, it sets out steps on security guarantees from the US and partners. This is very significant, and the discussions in Geneva took important steps forward with progress between the US and Ukraine on an updated peace framework. I can reassure the House that work is ongoing to refine this plan.”
But he went on: “So there’s still a long way to go and a tough road ahead. But we’re more committed than ever to this cause and to keep pushing forward on this process.”
Mr Starmer said that Ukraine must be at the centre of any peace talks.
Updating MPs on discussions with world leaders in South Africa last week he said: “The urgent need to take Russian oil and gas off the global market was something I discussed extensively at the G20.
“This is vital, especially now as winter begins to bite in Ukraine and Putin continues his barbaric attacks on civilians and civilian energy infrastructure. Because, Mr Speaker, as this House knows, and the British people know, there is only one nation that wants this war, only one nation that launched this illegal invasion, or the one nation that deploys a constant barrage aimed at murdering innocent civilians.
“We saw that again last night. Mr. speaker, with Russia ‘s strikes on key, indeed, in the last week before last night, Russia launched over 1200 drones and over 60 cruise and ballistic missiles at Ukraine, killing children like seven year old Amelia.”
