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Theresa May to warn of 'hostile' Russia threat to EU security Brexit: Both sides need to 'step forward' says May
(about 9 hours later)
PM Theresa May is to warn EU leaders to be wary of "hostile states like Russia" and pledge the UK will stay committed to European security after Brexit. Theresa May has insisted it is for both sides, not just the UK, to move the Brexit process forward so discussions on future trade relations can begin.
In Brussels for a summit, she will say it is crucial that European countries work together to "protect our shared values and ideals". She will meet the EU's Donald Tusk, who has told the UK it has until the start of December to offer further guarantees on money and the Irish border.
She will also discuss Brexit with European Council President Donald Tusk. Ministers have given her their backing to increase the UK's "divorce bill" but only if the EU shows movement on trade.
Last week Mr Tusk said the UK must show more progress on the "divorce bill" if trade talks were to begin this year. Arriving in Brussels, the PM said both sides "must step forward together".
On Friday, Mrs May is expected to stress the need for a unified approach to security as the UK leaves the EU. Environment Secretary Michael Gove refused to confirm or deny reports that the government had agreed to pay about £40bn to pave the way for EU leaders to approve the next phase of talks at a summit on 14 December.
She will say: "From agriculture in Ukraine to the tech sector in Belarus - there is a huge amount of potential in the Eastern neighbourhood that we should nurture and develop.
"But we must also be open-eyed to the actions of hostile states like Russia which threaten this potential and attempt to tear our collective strength apart.
"This summit highlights the crucial importance of the European countries working together to protect our shared values and ideals.
"The UK may be leaving the EU but we are not leaving Europe, and we are unconditionally committed to maintaining Europe's security."
Last week Mrs May accused Russian President Vladimir Putin's government of trying to "undermine free societies" and "sow discord in the West".
BBC Brussels reporter Adam Fleming said Friday's summit was about highlighting the EU's commitment to its partners in the East - countries like Ukraine and Azerbaijan.
He said the prime minister would use it to demonstrate that the UK could still contribute to European security after Brexit, for example by spending £100m over five years to fight Russian disinformation campaigns.
Brexit is not on the official agenda but Mrs May will meet Mr Tusk for talks, weeks before the next EU summit in December.
At that summit, EU leaders will decide whether enough progress has been made on issues like the financial settlement, the Irish border and citizens' rights to move on to the next phase of Brexit talks - on trade and a potential transition deal.
Earlier this week, the cabinet agreed that the UK should offer to pay more money to the EU - thought to be up to £40bn - but not before the EU agrees to begin talking about a new trade deal.
Last week Mr Tusk said the EU was "ready" to move onto the next phase of Brexit talks at the summit on 14 and 15 December but the UK must first show more progress on the outstanding issues.
The UK voted to leave the EU in June 2016, and served the EU with formal notice of Brexit in March 2017. This began a two-year countdown to the UK's departure day which will be in March 2019.The UK voted to leave the EU in June 2016, and served the EU with formal notice of Brexit in March 2017. This began a two-year countdown to the UK's departure day which will be in March 2019.
The British prime minister will later meet Mr Tusk, who as European Council president represents the 27 other member states, on the margins of a summit on security threats in Eastern Europe.
The BBC's Europe reporter Adam Fleming said he did not expect a "massive step forward" on Brexit but the meeting was an important "small step in the diplomatic dance" between the sides.
Asked whether she was prepared to offer a "blank cheque" to the EU to get what the UK wants, Mrs May signalled the onus was on the EU as well as the UK to make progress.
"These negotiations are continuing but what I am clear about is that we must step forward together," she said. "This is for both the UK and the EU to move onto the next stage."
Last week Mr Tusk said the EU was "ready" to move onto the next phase of Brexit talks but the UK must first show more progress on the outstanding issues.
'Exemplary'
Mr Gove, who was one of those ministers reported to have sanctioned the higher offer at a meeting of a key Brexit committee earlier this week, hit out at the "assumptions" and "assertions" reported in the media.
"I am not going to reveal what happened in a cabinet sub-committee," he told BBC Radio 4's Today.
"I am not going to provide a commentary on the negotiating stance because the PM and David Davis should be free to get the best deal for Britain."
The PM, he added, was handling the negotiations in an "exemplary fashion", saying he was confident that she would "put the national interest first" at all times.
During Friday's meeting, Mrs May will also warn EU leaders to be wary of "hostile states like Russia" and pledge the UK will stay committed to European security after Brexit.
"We must be open-eyed about the actions of hostile states like Russia who threaten the potential growth of the Eastern neighbourhood and try and tear our collective strength apart," she said.
She is expected to use the summit to demonstrate that the UK can contribute to European security after Brexit, for example by spending £100m over five years to fight Russian disinformation campaigns.