UK Prime Minister Willing To Deploy British Troops In Ukraine As Peace Deal Security Assurance
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer has said he is willing to deploy British troops to Ukraine “if necessary” as part of Western security assurances to Ukraine made in the event of a successful peace deal.
In a Sunday article in the Daily Telegraph published ahead of a summit of European leaders in Paris over support for Ukraine, Starmer said the UK and Europe were facing a “once in a generation” moment for their collective security. “This is not only a question about the future of Ukraine – it is existential for Europe as a whole.”
Starmer said that the UK would go beyond its current commitment to provide £3 billion a year in military aid in Ukraine until at least 2030 by being “ready and willing” to deploy British troops on the ground if necessary as part of security guarantees.
“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.”
This, Starmer said, meant that a US security guarantee was “essential” for a lasting peace, “because only the US can deter Putin from attacking again”.
Starmer reiterated that Ukraine’s government must be part of any negotiations for a peace deal, adding that Ukraine was on an “irreversible path” to join NATO even if it “may take time”.
The article was published after news broke that the United States would be sending representatives to Saudi Arabia to meet with Russian counterparts for peace talks. Kyiv has said that it was not invited to the talks in Riyadh, with Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelensky telling NBC News that Ukraine would never accept any deals reached by negotiations it was not part of.