Russia ‘getting weaker,’ says UK’s Starmer after talks with Biden, Scholz and Macron

BERLIN — War is taking its toll on Russia, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in Berlin on Friday — but there’s little sign major Western allies are about to raise their military commitments to Ukraine or offer a snap invitation to join NATO.
“While the situation is incredibly tough, it is also true that Russia is getting weaker,” Starmer said. “This war is soaking up 40 percent of their budget … Last month, Russia suffered the highest daily casualty rate so far.”
Starmer was in Berlin for talks with U.S. President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron — with all sides insisting their support remains iron-clad going into the meeting but offering no fresh guarantees to Kyiv.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented his Victory Plan to European leaders this week, aiming to secure an immediate invitation to join NATO along with further military aid and loosening of restrictions on the use of donated long-range missiles on targets inside Russia.
Speaking at the British Embassy, Starmer said the leaders discussed how “to speed up our support” for Ukraine. “As Ukraine enters a difficult winter, it is important to say we’re with you,” Starmer said.
“We’re absolutely united in our resolve, and we’ll back Ukraine for as long as it takes.”