PM defends Government's investment in defence at Nato summit

The Prime Minister has defended the Government's investment in defence amid suggestions the UK could lose influence due to the potentially diminishing size of the British Army.

Rishi Sunak was asked by broadcasters as he arrived in Vilnius, Lithuania, about warnings that Britain's power could be reduced.

Speaking as he prepares for two days of meetings with world leaders at the Nato summit, Mr Sunak told broadcasters the UK "should be incredibly proud of the leading role" it plays in global security.

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The PM said he wants to see Nato's commitment to inducting Ukraine as a full member of the alliance "reaffirmed" during discussions with leaders.

Mr Sunak said the UK, as well as the leadership of Ukraine, recognised that Kyiv would not join the defensive alliance "while they are in the midst of a conflict".

However, he said his Government "stands by" the conclusion of Nato's 15-year-old pledge to put Ukraine on a path to membership.

Britain is keen to see Ukraine's membership fast-tracked, arguing much of the military reforms asked of it are being witnessed on the battlefield in its fight against Russia's invading troops.

The US and Germany are said not to be on the same page as Britain with US president Joe Biden saying "the middle of a war" is not the time for Ukraine to join.

Mr Sunak said: "I've always said that Ukraine's rightful place is in Nato and that we stand by the language of Bucharest in 2008.

"I think what is important at this summit is that that commitment is reaffirmed and also that there is demonstrable progress towards that goal."

Downing Street said Mr Sunak would also use the summit to press home the importance of increasing Nato's defence spending in order to ward off Russian "tyranny", urging member states to meet the 2% GDP target.

Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who has had his tenure extended for 12 months, has said he is confident the summit will send a "positive message" to Ukraine about its path to membership.

The Prime Minister appeared to confirm reports that conversations have taken place with allies to provide Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky with non-Nato security guarantees.

Mr Zelensky, however, who is due to travel to Vilnius on Wednesday, said it is "absurd" that no timeframe has been set for Ukraine to join Nato following confirmation the UK is pushing for long-term military support to be pledged for Kyiv.

The Ukrainian president said "uncertainty is weakness" as he criticised Nato leaders for failing to agree a pathway for his war-torn country to accede to the defensive alliance.

Mr Zelensky said the delay was providing Russia with the "motivation to continue its terror".

In a Summit Communiqué, Nato heads of state and government participating in Tuesday's meeting of the North Atlantic Council, said: "We fully support Ukraine's right to choose its own security arrangements. Ukraine's future is in Nato. 

"We reaffirm the commitment we made at the 2008 Summit in Bucharest that Ukraine will become a member of Nato, and today we recognise that Ukraine's path to full Euro-Atlantic integration has moved beyond the need for the Membership Action Plan.

"Ukraine has become increasingly interoperable and politically integrated with the alliance."

To further support co-operation between Nato and Ukraine, the alliance said, it has decided to establish the Nato-Ukraine Council.

The joint body will see allies and Ukraine sitting as "equal members" to further political discourse, engagement and Ukraine's membership aspirations.