Keir Starmer offers to deploy UK troops to Ukraine as part of a peace agreement.
Starmer stresses the importance of including Ukraine in peace talks, criticizing any exclusion.
Former head of the Army warns UK military readiness is too low for a peacekeeping mission.
Sir Keir Starmer has expressed that he is “ready and willing” to deploy UK troops to Ukraine as part of a peace agreement to help ensure the country’s security.
The UK Prime Minister emphasized the importance of achieving lasting peace in Ukraine to prevent further aggression from President Putin in the future.
Ahead of an emergency summit with European leaders in Paris on Monday, Sir Keir stated that the UK was prepared to offer security guarantees to Ukraine, including potentially sending British troops to the region if necessary.
“I do not say that lightly,” he wrote in the Daily Telegraph. “I feel the heavy responsibility that comes with putting British servicemen and women in harm’s way.”
The Prime Minister added, “But any role in ensuring Ukraine’s security is also helping to ensure the security of our continent and our own country.”
Sir Keir warned that any end to Russia’s war in Ukraine should not simply be a “temporary pause” before Putin attacks again.
UK forces could join troops from other European nations along the border between Ukrainian-held and Russian-controlled territories.
This statement follows comments by the former head of the Army, Lord Dannatt, who told the BBC that the UK military was “too run down” to lead any future peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.
Until now, the Prime Minister has only alluded to the possibility of British troops helping to secure Ukraine after a ceasefire.
He is scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump in Washington later this month, where he plans to discuss the importance of a “US security guarantee for lasting peace” to deter further Russian aggression.
Sir Keir’s remarks come as he meets with European leaders in response to concerns that the US is progressing with peace talks with Russia that may exclude European involvement.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet Russian officials in Saudi Arabia in the coming days, according to US sources.
On Saturday, US special envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg stated that European leaders would only be consulted, not directly involved, in talks between the US and Russia.
A senior Ukrainian official confirmed on Sunday that Kyiv has not been invited to the US-Russia talks.
Earlier this week, Trump revealed that he had spoken at length with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that negotiations to end the war in Ukraine would begin “immediately.” He also “informed” President Zelensky of his plan.
On Sunday, Trump stated that he expected Zelensky to be involved in the talks and indicated that he would allow European nations to purchase US weapons for Ukraine.
When asked about his timeline for ending the conflict, Trump said, “We’re working to get it done,” and placed the blame for the war on the previous administration’s policies toward Ukraine.
In his Telegraph article, Sir Keir argued that “peace cannot come at any cost” and that Ukraine must be part of the negotiations. “Anything less would validate Putin’s position that Ukraine is not a real nation.”
He also warned, “We cannot have another situation like Afghanistan, where the US negotiated directly with the Taliban and excluded the Afghan government,” referring to a deal negotiated during Trump’s first term, which was later implemented by the Biden administration.
“I’m confident President Trump will want to avoid this too,” Sir Keir concluded.
Sir Keir Starmer stated that Ukraine’s path to NATO membership is “irreversible” and that European nations “must increase our defense spending and take on a greater role” within the alliance.
The UK currently allocates about 2.3% of its GDP to defense and has pledged to increase this to 2.5%, though no specific timeline has been provided.
While Trump has advocated for NATO members to spend 5% of their GDP on defense, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has proposed that allies aim for over 3%.
Lord Dannatt, former head of the Army (2006-2009), told the BBC that up to 40,000 UK troops would be needed for a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, but noted that the UK does not have that many available. He estimated that a peacekeeping force would require around 100,000 troops in total, and that the UK would be expected to provide a significant portion—something it currently cannot manage.
The meeting in Paris, called by French President Emmanuel Macron, will bring together Sir Keir and leaders from Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark, along with the Presidents of the European Council and European Commission, and Rutte.
