Starmer made the statement at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and other members of the “coalition of the willing” who met in London.
As reported by Sky News, the PM said the coalition and U.S. President Donald Trump are all working together "as one wider coalition" in relation to their support for Ukraine.
“We've put in more missiles from the UK in recent days and weeks, and [are] pushing the case for long range [Tomahawk missiles],” Sky News quoted Starmer.
“It is really important we do have long range, and those discussions are ongoing.”
In turn, Zelenskyy echoed the importance of U.S. involvement in the peace process, saying the coalition cannot find a way to stop Russian dictator Vladimir Putin or end the war without United States. “Putin’s plan is to divide us and make us weaker,” Zelenskyy added.
On Oct. 6, Trump said he had “practically made” a decision to send Tomahawks to Ukraine but wanted to see how they would be used.
By Oct. 13, Trump was reportedly considering warning Putin that he might approve the missile transfer if the war did not end. Three days later, after what he described as a “productive” call with Putin, Trump announced a planned meeting in Budapest that was later canceled.
At a meeting with Zelenskyy on Oct. 17, Trump was widely reported to have refused Ukraine’s request for Tomahawks. Zelenskyy said the U.S. president neither refused nor agreed and that further discussion of long-range weapons would be handled behind closed doors.