Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has stated that the UK is "ready and willing" to deploy British troops to Ukraine to enforce any peace deal, increasing pressure on European leaders ahead of a summit in Paris.
In an exclusive piece for The Telegraph, Sir Keir emphasized that the decision to consider sending British servicemen and women into potential danger was not taken lightly. This marks the first time he has openly acknowledged the possibility of deploying British peacekeepers to Ukraine. His remarks come just before a meeting with European leaders in Paris on Monday.
French President Emmanuel Macron called the emergency summit after European leaders were excluded from early Ukraine peace talks between the US and Russia. Additionally, key figures from Donald Trump’s administration indicated a potential reduction in US security commitments to Europe.
Sir Keir’s declaration is expected to increase pressure on European allies, particularly Germany, to support a European-led peacekeeping force in Ukraine. He also suggested that Britain could serve as a crucial intermediary between Europe and the US in the ongoing peace process in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russia and the US foreign ministers are set to meet in Saudi Arabia to initiate discussions on a peace agreement. Ukraine, however, has not been invited to these negotiations—a move Sir Keir strongly opposed, drawing parallels to the US decision to exclude the Afghan government from talks during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.
"The UK is ready to play a leading role in accelerating work on security guarantees for Ukraine," he wrote. "This includes further military support, with the UK already committed to providing £3 billion annually until at least 2030. But it also means being prepared to contribute to Ukraine’s security by deploying our troops if necessary. I do not say this lightly. The responsibility of potentially putting British service personnel in harm’s way is one I take very seriously."
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, UK prime ministers have refrained from publicly considering troop deployments. However, Sir Keir has recently opened the door to supporting Macron’s proposal for a European-led peacekeeping force. European leaders have privately discussed the concept in light of expectations that Trump would oppose US troop involvement in such efforts.
A Downing Street insider indicated that Sir Keir’s decision to publicly address the matter before the Paris summit was partly influenced by statements made at last weekend’s Munich Security Conference. US officials signaled that Europe must take on a greater role in its defense, reinforcing the need for European cooperation.
The Paris summit will be attended by leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, the European Commission, the European Council, and NATO. Discussions will center on the structure of a potential European-led peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, with one proposal suggesting that European troops could be stationed behind a newly established front line, while Ukrainian forces remain at the border.
However, questions remain about whether European allies can provide sufficient troops for an effective peacekeeping force. Some estimates suggest as many as 100,000 soldiers may be required.
Sir Keir stressed the urgency of these discussions, writing: "The coming days will determine the future security of our continent. As I will say in Paris, peace is achieved through strength, but weakness invites war. This is a moment for us all to step up. The UK will do so—not only because it aligns with our values and freedoms, but because it is essential to our national security."
Following the Paris talks, Sir Keir plans to discuss the agreements reached with Trump in Washington, where they are scheduled to meet before the end of the month. The issue of defense spending remains a point of contention in the UK, with military chiefs calling for an increase beyond the 2.5% of GDP target. Current spending stands at 2.3%, while the British Army’s troop numbers have fallen below 73,000—the lowest since the Napoleonic era.
Additionally, Sir Keir reiterated that Ukraine must be directly involved in any peace negotiations. His comments followed Trump’s recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which bypassed Kyiv. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are set to meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss a potential peace agreement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted that he will "never accept any decisions made between the US and Russia about Ukraine."
Macron has emphasized the importance of European involvement in peace negotiations, stating that he has spoken with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about ensuring Europe plays a central role in securing a "solid and lasting peace."
Former UK Prime Minister Sir John Major also weighed in, criticizing Trump for "cuddling up" to Putin. He warned that allowing Russia to retain seized Ukrainian territory could embolden authoritarian leaders worldwide.
Sir Keir concluded by stressing that any peace agreement must recognize Ukraine’s sovereignty. "We must be clear that peace cannot come at any cost. Ukraine must be at the table in these negotiations because anything less would validate Putin’s claim that Ukraine is not a legitimate nation. President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people have demonstrated extraordinary resilience and made immense sacrifices. We cannot repeat the mistakes made in Afghanistan, where the US sidelined the Afghan government in negotiations with the Taliban. I believe President Trump will also want to avoid such an outcome."
Meanwhile, military leaders have urged Sir Keir to invest in a "national arsenal" of advanced weaponry to deter potential future conflicts with Russia. Senior Army sources confirmed that in recent meetings with the Prime Minister, they outlined the necessary military capabilities to prepare for future threats and argued that increased investment would align with the government’s economic growth agenda.
Comments
Post a Comment