British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer has stated that the United Kingdom is “ready and willing” to deploy troops in Ukraine to help secure its future as part of a potential peace agreement.
Starmer said this in a statement ahead of an emergency summit with European leaders in Paris, France.
While signalling the UK’s commitment to contributing to Ukraine’s security if required, he stressed the need for lasting peace to prevent future Russian aggression, emphasising that such a decision would not be made lightly.
In his Daily Telegraph article, Starmer pointed out that any role in securing Ukraine’s safety would directly contribute to the security of Europe and the UK. “Any role in helping to guarantee Ukraine’s security is helping to guarantee the security of our continent and the security of this country,” he wrote.
According to the BBC, the proposed deployment could see UK troops stationed alongside soldiers from other European nations along the border between Ukrainian-controlled and Russian-held territories.
However, concerns have been raised regarding the UK military’s capacity, with Lord Dannatt, former head of the UK Army, warning that the military is too underfunded to lead a peacekeeping mission.
In the coming weeks, Starmer is set to meet President Donald Trump in Washington to discuss US security guarantees for lasting peace.
While Starmer recognises Trump’s efforts, he insists that Ukraine must be directly involved in negotiations. “Peace cannot come at any cost,” he said. “Ukraine must be at the table in these negotiations.”
The Paris summit, convened by French President Emmanuel Macron, will see Starmer join leaders from Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and others, as well as the presidents of the European Council and European Commission, to discuss further steps in securing peace in the region.
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