U. K. and EU Team Up to Boost Ukraine's Defense

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is planning a defense agreement with the European Union to support Ukraine, in case Donald Trump halts U. S. aid. This move is a big deal because it shows what Europe is expecting from Trump's second term. They're trying to strengthen Ukraine's defenses before Trump takes office again. The U. K. and EU haven't always been best friends since the Brexit vote in 2016. But now, they're working together again. Starmer spoke about this idea before, saying it would involve coordinating troops, funding, and training. He made this move while visiting Estonia for a defense summit. At the summit, countries signed a statement supporting Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky. Starmer wants to learn from the British troops training in Norway and the 1, 000 troops in Estonia to make this defense pact work. Starmer has been pushing for defense improvements since he got elected. In July, he started a big review of U. K. defense capabilities. He also signed a security agreement with Germany in October. Trump said he could end the Russia-Ukraine war quickly. Some European leaders worry he might stop supporting Ukraine in peace talks. That's why this defense pact is so important. Starmer said, "We live in a world that's getting more dangerous, especially with the situation in Ukraine. We need to make Ukraine as strong as possible, whether there are negotiations or not. That means more troops, more money, and more training – and we need to do this together with our partners. " Some people think this is a good move. Others think the U. K. should spend more on defense. We'll see how this defense pact develops and what Trump decides about Ukraine.