**UK and EU Must Increase Defence Spending, Says Lammy**
The UK and EU countries must spend more on defence to protect Europe from threats like Russia. This is the view of David Lammy, the UK’s Foreign Secretary.
Lammy spoke at a conference in Munich where he met other foreign ministers from France, Germany, and Poland. He said that even if there is a negotiated peace in Ukraine, Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin will not go away. This means Europe faces an “existential question”.
**Nato Countries Must Meet Defence Spending Goals**
Lammy also emphasized the importance of Nato countries meeting their defence spending goals. Currently, 23 Nato countries are spending at least 2% of their GDP on defence. Lammy said that this is a positive step but that more needs to be done.
The UK has committed to spending 2.5% of its GDP on defence and will set out a plan to achieve this goal in the coming months.
**US Vice-President Warns Europe to Step Up**
Earlier, US Vice-President JD Vance told the conference that Europe must “step up” to provide for its own defence. He said that many European governments have retreated from their values and ignored issues like migration and free speech.
Vance also warned that the greatest threat facing Europe is not from Russia or China but from within itself.
**UK and EU Must Share Burden of Security**
Lammy and Defence Secretary John Healey wrote in The Telegraph that the UK and Europe must “do more together” to share the burden of security across the continent. They said that the West has done too little in the past when Russia first invaded Ukraine in 2014.
The UK has committed an additional £150m towards military aid for Ukraine, and new sanctions have been imposed on people close to Putin.
**Ukrainian President Proposes “Army of Europe”**
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed the idea of a single European army to secure the continent. He said that Europe needs a single voice, not many different ones.
Lammy suggested that a long-term military and financial partnership between the US and Ukraine might be the best security guarantee for the country.