British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer supported Ukraine joining NATO, a day after the Donald Trump administration’s defense secretary rejected the proposal.

“My position is NATO’s position,” Starmer said, asked about his stance on Trump’s statements about opening negotiations to end the war in Ukraine and Pete Hegseth’s claim – that Ukraine’s membership in the military alliance is not a “realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement.”

“This was discussed at the summit we had last year in Washington, where it was agreed among all NATO members that there should be an irreversible path for Ukraine toward NATO membership,” Starmer continued, according to a statement to ITV News, which POLITICO quoted,

Asked whether the UK would now back away from that goal in light of Hegceth’s comments, Starmer said: “No, obviously nobody expected (NATO membership) to be immediate. It was a long-term process. But what is more important, I think, is that we stand by Ukraine.”

He added: “This conflict could end tomorrow if Putin withdrew his troops. And so for me, that would be the simplest and quickest way to end this conflict.”

It’s also worth noting that the British prime minister did not agree with the “praise” Trump had verbally heaped on Russian President Vladimir Putin – “genius” and “intelligence”. “Putin is the one attacking (this war),” he commented.