Putin will always want more – Carmichael raises concerns about “carving up the map” in Europe

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today in Parliament warned against the US “carving up the map in Europe” in a deal with Vladimir Putin. Speaking in an Urgent Question on the war in Ukraine following revelations that Donald Trump plans to meet the Russian leader to discuss an end to Putin’s invasion, Mr Carmichael noted that “no matter what we give Vladimir Putin, he’s always going to want more”. 

Mr Carmichael added that it was a moment for a “fundamental reset” of relations with Europe, not only in defence, in order to respond to new threats.

Speaking in the House, Mr Carmichael said:

“Viewed from Washington, the idea of carving up the map in Europe might look like a pragmatic deal, even if history tells us that this always ends badly. Surely in Europe we understand that no matter what we give Vladimir Putin, he’s always going to want more.

“So, is that the context in which the Strategic Defence Review is being carried out, and does the minister accept that this is a moment which is going to require a fundamental reset of our relationship with Europe – not just in defence – and also for us to get real about the financial and economic implications of that?”

Responding for the government, Defence Minister Maria Eagle MP said:

“I can assure him that the Strategic Defence Review is about identifying threats that we face now, rather than threats that we faced before the Ukraine war began, so I can tell him that it is being conducted with that in mind. In terms of the deterrence that we need to be able to provide, the money that is needed to be spent in order to provide it, the commitment is as the Prime Minister has said: he will set out the path to 2.5% once the Strategic Defence Review has been published – and we expect that to be in the Spring.”

Reacting after the exchange, Mr Carmichael said:

“This is a moment in which the government has the opportunity and indeed the responsibility to be bold in responding to the threats that we face. That means squaring up to the needs of our defence in an increasingly dangerous world but it also means acting to build stronger links with our democratic allies now, rather than later. Making excuses for isolationism is a luxury we can no longer afford.”