Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated that he is “ready and willing” to send British troops to Ukraine to help enforce any peace agreements, marking the first suggestion of such a deployment. This announcement comes just before an important defense meeting with European leaders in Paris.
Starmer will attend the crisis summit called by French President Emmanuel Macron, amid growing concerns regarding Donald Trump’s intentions to negotiate a peace deal with Vladimir Putin. There are fears that such a settlement might allow Russia to retain control over the territory it currently occupies after three years of conflict, without the involvement of U.S. peacekeeping troops—a scenario perceived as a geopolitical win for Moscow.
At the Paris meeting, the UK is expected to advocate for a joint European task force, encouraging other nations, including Germany, to contribute troops if a deal regarding Ukraine can be reached. The UK will continue to support the Ukrainian military, having committed £3 billion annually until at least 2030.
In a statement to the Telegraph, Starmer emphasized the UK’s obligation to play a leading role in enhancing security guarantees for Ukraine. He reaffirmed that this includes the potential deployment of British troops if necessary.
Starmer also plans to meet with Trump in the coming days to collaborate with G7 partners on securing a strong deal for Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made it clear that he will only participate in peace negotiations if Ukraine is included in the discussions. At the Munich Security Conference last week, he asserted, “I will meet with Putin only after we have a common plan with Trump and Europe. Only in this case, I’m ready to meet.”
Credit: The Mirror
