Russia is getting “weaker” and Vladimir Putin has shown “desperation” if he has recruited thousands of North Korean troops for his war in Ukraine, says Sir Keir Starmer.
Speaking after a meeting with Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, the Prime Minister stressed that the West was looking to increase its supply of weapons to Kyiv.
But he did not say whether America had agreed to pleas by Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky for permission to fire long-range missiles supplied by the West to hit targets deep inside Russia.
US president Mr Biden later said there was no consensus agreed on long-range weapons, with Washington reported to be divided on such a move given that it could escalate the conflict.
On the battlefield, the Russian army is making grinding advances in eastern Ukraine, mile by mile, often suffering heavy casualties.
But Ukraine’s armed forces are also being hit with heavy losses and towns and cities are being pummelled by Russian drone and bombing attacks.
Western officials believe Putin’s forces will continue to gain ground in coming months, but that economic pressure and on military equipment will start to bite in 2025 and 2026.
As Ukraine braced for another harsh winter under attack, Sir Keir said: “While the situation is incredibly tough, it’s also true that Russia is getting weaker.
“This war is soaking up 40 per cent of their budget and last month Russia suffered the highest daily casualty rates so far.
“So we discussed how to speed up our support for Ukraine.”
Earlier this month, the Minstry of Defence in London put out an intelligence briefing which stated that the average daily Russian casualties (killed and wounded) in Ukraine reached a new monthly war high during September. T
The average daily loss rate was 1,271 per day compared to the previous monthly war high of 1,262 recorded in May 2024, according to Ukrainian General Staff reporting. Since the start of the conflict Russia has likely suffered over 648,000 casualties, the UK report added.
It put the increase in the casualty rate since May almost certainly down to the extension of the combat zone to include both Kharkiv in north east Ukraine and Kursk military operations, after Kyiv’s forces made a surprise attack into Russia in the summer and seized territory in this region, much of which they are still holding.
The UK, US, Ukraine and its allies are also fighting an information war against Russia so their briefings need to be treated with caution, but are more believable than the Kremlin propaganda.
After the meeting in Berlin on Friday of the four Nato major powers, the UK Prime Minister stressed: “We have reiterated again our strong support for Ukraine and to work with Ukraine to deliver the justice that it absolutely deserves.
“That is what we have been working hard on today, what further capability, what further equipment, what further resource can we put in.”
Asked what intelligence Britain had to support Ukraine claims that up to 12,000 North Korean troops are being deployed to support Putin’s war effort, Sir Keir said: “I’ve seen the reports.
“If this is true, it looks more an act of desperation than anything else.”
Mr Biden, the outgoing US president, stressed the need for the West to stay united in its backing for Ukraine, amid fears in European capitals that Donald Trump, if he wins a second term in the White House in November, could scale back support.
“As Ukraine faces a tough winter, we must, we must sustain our resolve, our effort and our support,” Mr Biden said.
“And I know the cost is heavy. Make no mistake, it pales in comparison to the cost of living in the world where aggression prevails, where large states attack and bully smaller ones simply because they can,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mr Zelensky said on Friday that some allies have been raising the issue of Kyiv holding direct talks with Russia, which he said was dangerous for Ukraine and plays into Moscow's hands.
"This is a desirable idea for Russia," he added.
Putin said on Friday Russia would not let Ukraine get nuclear weapons, after Ukraine's leader said that since Kyiv had given up its Soviet-era nuclear arms, it must join NATO.
