PRIME Minister Keir Starmer must stand by Ukraine even if Donald Trump waters down US support, a poll says.
Brits want to see Vladimir Putin’s Russia beaten and do not want the UK to back a peace deal that is bad for Volodymyr Zelensky’s nation.
AlamyUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky[/caption]
GettyPresident Elect Donald Trump[/caption]
GettyPresident of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky[/caption]
It comes amid fears that President Elect Trump will pull American military aid to Ukraine.
He wants to end the Ukraine war “within a day” but this could mean pressuring Volodymyr Zelensky to give up territory.
And Brits are not confident in The Don’s ability to handle the Ukraine conflict.
The poll by think tank More in Common found that 41 per cent are worried a Trump-negotiated deal is likely to favour Russia more.
Just 13 per cent think Ukraine would benefit more and 19 per cent think it will favour both equally.
AFPAftermath of a Russian missile attack in Odesa on November 18, 2024[/caption]
GettyUkrainian soldiers wait for orders on November 23, 2024. (Photo by Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images)[/caption]
GettyUkrainian soldier, Donetsk Oblast[/caption]
If Mr Trump negotiates a deal that Ukraine opposes, Brits tend to think the UK should oppose the deal too.
But the survey marking the war’s 1,000th day this week shows British support for Ukraine remains resolute.
69 per cent said it is important to the UK that Mr Zelensky defeats Putin’s invasion. Just nine per cent say it is not.
Former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “It’s not enough for the Prime Minister to cash in on the strong, cross society support for Ukraine.
“He and Rachel Reeves must put their money where their mouth is and fund our efforts and the modernisation of our own Armed Forces properly.
“The people of the UK want him to lead, Europe and Ukraine want him to lead so I urge him, for the security of all of us, to do so.”
The poll of 2,000 adults found strong support for supplying Ukraine with British weapons – with almost half saying we had spent the right amount or too little on military aid.
GettyPresident Elect Donald Trump[/caption]
Ukraine fired UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles at Russia for the first time this week.
And 48 per cent of Brits say it should be up to Ukraine to decide how they use the weapons we have provided them.
Most want the UK to back Ukraine until they have won back the territory they had at the start of the invasion.
Luke Tryl, UK Director of More in Common, said: “Over 1,000 days into the war Britons remain resolute in support of Ukraine and think that beating Putin matters.
“They are also clear that Keir Starmer should not back a US negotiated peace deal that is bad for Ukraine and that the UK needs to continue its support for the invaded country.”