THE UK’s role in ensuring the security of Ukraine can only be undertaken in partnership with the USA, according to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.

She said on GB News: “It was really important that European leaders came together in Paris yesterday to discuss this issue, because whatever happens in the next couple of days, weeks, months, we need to find a way to create a lasting and enduring peace for Ukraine.

“What we can’t have is a situation where there is a temporary pause in hostilities, say, which allows Putin to return with a territorial incursion into a sovereign country, which leads to the resumption of aggression.

“And so, I think what Keir was doing was talking to other European leaders. He will be also talking to the US president in the coming days, and he has been clear that we are willing to consider playing our role in the future security of Ukraine, but that must be done in partnership with the US.

“I think all of us have been absolutely horrified by the bloodshed and the war that has been raging on the European continent over the last few years.

“The Prime Minister and this government is clear that this isn’t just an issue for the people of Ukraine. This is an issue of European security, and as a consequence, it’s an issue of national security for us here in the UK.”

Asked about defence spending, in a discussion during Breakfast with Eamonn Holmes and Ellie Costello, she said: “We have commissioned a strategic defence review. It was one of the first things we committed to when we were elected in July of last year, and that’s to look at our capabilities and the amount of money we need to be spending to ensure we protect national security.

“We have committed to reaching 2.5% of GDP being spent on defence as soon as the financial and economic situation allows.

“We have also said that we recognise that Europe has to do more to step up to provide its own security. And so those will be the sorts of things that the Prime Minister will be discussing with the President of the United States when he meets with him next week.”

Pressed further on defence spending, she said: “I’m not going to get ahead of the spending review. The spending review is the process by which the Chancellor determines what amount of money is going to be available to be spent on public services, on our schools, our hospitals, local authorities, and the amount of money that is spent on defence and our military.

“As I said we are conducting the strategic defence review that will be looking at our capabilities and our requirements, and the security of the British people is first and foremost in all of this.

“Both the Prime Minister and the Chancellor will do what it takes. Indeed, we have done in the last few years, haven’t we?

“When President Zelensky has said that he needed the UK and other European countries to step up to the plate to enable him to deal with this Russian aggression, we have done, and we have said that we will continue to do everything that it did take to ensure that Ukraine is in a position of strength in any any discussions that happen going forward.”