Skip to main content
Donate to the 95 years appeal
Labour should be preparing for peace, not more war
Dangerous and delusional military posturing on the world stage does not serve the interests of the public among the European powers, nor the people of Ukraine, writes DIANE ABBOTT
Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaking at a press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, February 3, 2025

THERE is a sense of crisis and chaos in a series of European capitals, including London. Strangely, this has been sparked by the possibility of peace in Ukraine. Normally, this level of panic and confusion would be caused by the outbreak of war, so the current frenzy probably tells us something rather distasteful about the state of mainstream politics across Europe.

One key response has been a series of deranged boasts and plans for the Europeans to continue the war by other means. These are dangerous delusions and should be rejected completely.

Instead of preparing for more war and ramping up both militaristic rhetoric and military spending, European countries should be preparing for peace, for rebuilding Ukraine, and repairing practical relations. Others are. Already there is talk of the US lifting sanctions. Ordinarily, we could argue that a Labour government could take the lead in this, but that seems utterly futile under this leadership.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
People taking part in a Tommy Robinson-led Unite the Kingdom march and rally in Parliament Square, central London, September 13, 2025
Features / 20 September 2025
20 September 2025

DIANE ABBOTT MP argues we shouldn’t see last week’s march as an inarticulate outpouring of confused class consciousness, arguing that the agenda was set by the stars of the international far right, whose speeches were explicit, extreme and unopposed

Home Office of Border Force officers process small boat migrants detained, under the UK's new ‘one in, one out’ deal with France, at the Manston Immigration Processing Centre in Kent before relocation to the Immigration Removal Centre to await their return to France, August 7 2025
Features / 6 September 2025
6 September 2025

DIANE ABBOTT exposes the misconceptions, rumours and downright lies perpetrated around immigration issues

Reform party leader Nigel Farage takes part in media interviews after holding a news conference in central London, August 4, 2025
Features / 23 August 2025
23 August 2025

Every Starmer boast about removing asylum-seekers probably wins Reform another seat while Labour loses more voters to Lib Dems, Greens and nationalists than to the far right — the disaster facing Labour is the leadership’s fault, writes DIANE ABBOTT MP

People during a Stand Up To Racism protest near the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf, London where asylum seekers are planned to be housed, July 25, 2025
Features / 9 August 2025
9 August 2025

DIANE ABBOTT explodes the anti-migrant myths perpetrated by cynical politicians and an irresponsible mass media

Similar stories
President Donald Trump gestures during a press conference after the plenary session at the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, June 25, 2025
Features / 28 June 2025
28 June 2025

Europe is acquiescing in Trump’s manoeuvrings — where Europe takes over the US forever war in Ukraine while Washington gets ready for a future fight with China. And it’s working people who will be left paying the price, says DIANE ABBOTT MP

Keir Starmer (front centre) hosts European leaders' summit t
Features / 8 March 2025
8 March 2025
As European leaders compete to increase military spending while threatening welfare cuts, the burden will fall disproportionately on working people and minority communities, warns DIANE ABBOTT MP
French President Emmanuel Macron (left) greets Britain's Pri
17 February 2025
17 February 2025
UNDER THREAT: Latin American progressives (Left to right) Cu
Features / 11 January 2025
11 January 2025
There are unique dangers from Trump’s second term, from his territorial ambitions and corporate power grab to the global emboldening of hard-right forces championed by his consigliere Elon Musk, writes DIANE ABBOTT MP