Keir Starmer says he won't talk to the Russian leader like the German chancellor did. He has no plans to follow that example.
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Starmer spoke with journalists on a government plane heading to Rio de Janeiro for the G20 summit.
When asked if he would talk to Putin like German Chancellor Olaf Scholz did, Starmer said: “it is a matter for Chancellor Scholz who he speaks to. I have no plans to speak to Putin.”
At the G20 summit, Starmer's main goal is to get leaders to support Ukraine more.
He was also asked about US President-elect Donald Trump's stance on Ukraine aid. “There are really important issues right here, right now when it comes to Ukraine that I think are well worth us [discussing], and it is important that we do pursue,” he said.
After Scholz spoke with Putin, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky criticized the move. He said it could harm Western efforts to isolate Putin. “Now there may be other conversations, other calls,” he noted.
Scholz defended his call to Putin, saying it was to tell Putin that he can't count on support from Germany and others. “it was important to tell him that he cannot count on support from Germany, Europe and many others in the world waning.”
The German chancellor called the conversation detailed but said Putin's views on the war haven't changed. “contributed to a recognition that little has changed in the Russian president’s views of the war – and that is not good news.”
The Kremlin said Putin told Scholz that the conflict is due to NATO's aggressive policy. “a direct result of NATO’s long-standing aggressive policy aimed at creating an anti-Russian bridgehead on Ukrainian territory.”