Keir Starmer promises to put British troops in Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping force
The British Prime Minister has taken the lead in Europe on security guarantees for Ukraine after the US sidelined European leaders over peace talks.
The UK will deploy peacekeepers to Ukraine as part of a Ukraine-Russia peace deal, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced.
Sir Keir wrote in The Telegraph UK that he had not taken the decision lightly to put British servicemen and women “in harm’s way” but he said the country had to contribute to any security guarantee for Ukraine.
His announcement comes as European leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark meet the European Commission, the European Council and NATO in Paris on Monday (local time) to formulate ways in which Europe will take part in any peace negotiations to bring the near three-year war between Russia and Ukraine to an end.
Up until now US officials have said the talks, which kickstart with the foreign ministers of the United States and Russia in Saudi Arabia on Monday, won’t include Europe.
It is also unclear to the extent Ukraine will be involved, with Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky vowing he will not accept any proposal if Ukraine is not involved in the discussions.
Mr Zelensky has been lobbying for a European army to help secure Ukraine’s borders after efforts to have Ukraine join NATO as part of any peace negotiations was rebuffed by the Americans.
French President Emmanuel Macron called the emergency European summit after the White House administration suggested they would scale back support for Europe. US Vice-President JD Vance also inflamed tensions on Friday when he accused Europe of curtailing freedom of speech and abandoning democratic values.
Sir Keir’s move may pave the way for other European countries to participate in a Europe-wide military role to assist Ukraine.
He wrote in the Telegraph newspaper: “The UK is ready to play a leading role in accelerating work on security guarantees for Ukraine. This includes further support for Ukraine’s military – where the UK has already committed £3bn (A$6 billion) a year until at least 2030.
“But it also means being ready and willing to contribute to security guarantees to Ukraine by putting our own troops on the ground if necessary. I do not say that lightly. I feel very deeply the responsibility that comes with potentially putting British servicemen and women in harm’s way.
“But any role in helping to guarantee Ukraine’s security is helping to guarantee the security of our continent and the security of this country. The end of this war, when it comes, cannot merely become a temporary pause before Putin attacks again.”
However Sir Keir’s move, which hasn’t been costed or put before parliament, may not be popular, with the cost of living crisis, tax rises and a stagnating economy front of mind of most Britons.
Sources inside Downing Street have been briefing journalists that Sir Keir was prompted to make the move after US officials pressured European countries to play a greater role in defence of Europe, and signalled that US forces would not play a significant role in ongoing protection of Ukraine.
Estimates have been given that at least 100,000 soldiers would be required in such a European force, which would severely impact some European countries’ defensive capabilities.
But while Sir Keir said Europe had to step up in this moment, he also called for US support and an essential US security guarantee to deter Mr Putin from attacking again. He said he would meet with US President Donald Trump in the coming days to help broker “a strong deal” with Britain and the G7.
He wrote: “We must be clear that peace cannot come at any cost. Ukraine must be at the table in these negotiations, because anything less would accept Putin’s position that Ukraine is not a real nation.”
Sir Keir added: “These crucial days ahead will determine the future security of our continent. As I will say in Paris, peace comes through strength. But the reverse is also true. Weakness leads to war.”
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