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The UK does not support Donald Trump’s deal with Vladimir Putin, which would see the US purchase millions of tonnes of diesel from Russia, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has said. <\/b><\/p>\n
Speaking to Radio 4’s Broadcasting House, he said the agreement had been done in the context of the US president facing elections in November and at a time when politicians across the world were under pressure to ease the cost of living. <\/p>\n
He argued that the US and other allies should focus on increasing pressure on Russia to shorten the war “and to secure Ukraine’s freedom”. <\/p>\n
The US-Russia deal is aimed at lowering fuel prices in America which have risen following the US and Israel’s conflict with Iran. <\/p>\n
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the agreement would allow Moscow to raise funds to source new military equipment to continue the war.<\/p>\n
In response, Trump suggested Ukraine should “get a new leader” who could reach a deal with Russia to end the long-running conflict between the two countries. <\/p>\n
Streeting said it was a matter for Ukrainians to choose their leader but added that the country was “fortunate to have someone of his calibre, his courage and his integrity leading their war effort”. <\/p>\n
He added that responsibility for the war “lies squarely and solely with President Putin and his imperialist ambitions”. <\/p>\n
The defence secretary said it was not the first time there had been public disagreements between Washington and Kyiv, adding: “In these situations we see it as our role and our responsibility to try and bring our friends back together again.”<\/p>\n
He also sought to emphasise the US’s support for Ukraine, saying there was “often an understatement” of how much help they had provided. <\/p>\n
“We’re seeing US support for Ukraine in a number of ways from the provision of weapons – and we do a lot of procurement through the Americans – through to intelligence support and through the diplomatic initiative that Washington is leading.”<\/p>\n
Conservative shadow chancellor Andrew Griffith said Trump was “wrong” to call for Zelensky to go, adding: “The US is our closest ally but even close allies can disagree.”<\/p>\n
Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, he also criticised the diesel deal saying it “sends out all the wrong messages”. <\/p>\n
“If you want a peaceful world, you don’t do that sort of deal – you properly fund defence and prepare for war.”<\/p>\n
Also appearing on the programme, Streeting said the UK had to plan its defence spending on the basis that there could be a Russian attack on Nato – the military alliance made up of 32 countries – by 2030. <\/p>\n
He said the UK didn’t “seek conflict with Russia” but added: “Strength is the best form of deterrence.”<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, John Healey – now the chancellor – resigned as defence secretary accusing Sir Keir Starmer’s government of not providing enough money for defence and said the UK had to be spending 3% of national income on defence by 2030, up from an estimated 2.6% this year. <\/p>\n
Streeting said Healey would use the coming Budget to “plug” a \u00a34.7bn funding gap to pay for the Defence Investment Plan.<\/p>\n
He also said the government would set out a path to increase spending to 3.5% of national income by 2035 at next year’s Spending Review. <\/p>\n
Pressed on whether the government could commit to spending 3% of GDP by 2030, Streeting said he would “always push for more defence spending” but added: “We’re not going to set out a spending commitment without showing how we will pay for it.”<\/p>\n
“If I were the chancellor to sit on your programme now and say ‘3% in 2030’ without saying how we would pay for it, the markets would price in that risk and the cost of borrowing would go up.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/p>\nUK needs ‘credible path’ on defence spending, says Nato chief<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n