UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer openly declared his willingness to deploy British troops to Ukraine for the first time as part of a potential peacekeeping operation, provided that Moscow consents to a deal involving European peacekeepers.
Speaking on Sunday, Starmer acknowledged the inherent risks, noting that deploying troops would “put them in harm’s way.” However, he stressed that such a move is essential given the “existential” threat facing Europe. He characterized the current situation as a “once in a generation moment” that demands bold and decisive action.
His remarks come on the eve of an emergency summit of European leaders in Paris, which Starmer is expected to attend. Starmer underlined the severity of the crisis and reiterated his support for the idea of peacekeeping forces in Ukraine.
He further stated that the UK is ready to take a leading role in Ukraine’s defense and security, with a commitment of £3 billion (€3.6 billion) per year until 2030.
These comments follow a series of statements from officials in the new Trump administration, who have indicated plans to scale back US defense commitments in Europe and to pursue peace talks in Ukraine without significant European involvement.
On Saturday, Keith Kellogg, President Trump’s special envoy on Ukraine and Russia, suggested that Europe might not have a seat at the negotiating table in potential peace discussions between Russia and Ukraine, though he acknowledged that a “European alliance” remains crucial for protecting Ukrainian sovereignty.
Last week, both President Donald Trump and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth appeared to downplay the importance of returning Russian-occupied territories to Kyiv or supporting Ukraine’s long-standing NATO aspirations, key elements of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s proposed peace plan.
The US administration plans to hold negotiations with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia during this week.
A telephone conference between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin led to disruption of the three-year US-led operation to cut the Kremlin’s diplomatic ties.
European leaders remain unsure about their contribution to Ukrainian peace efforts due to recent statements from the United States.
The implementation of European peacekeeping troops as a Ukraine solution has been under consideration for some time now.
French President Emmanuel Macron introduced the peacekeeping concept during the early part of 2024 without specifying which units would participate.
The plan has received increasing support over time yet critical information regarding the peacekeepers’ makeup and mission composition and strength remains unknown.
A future European peacekeeping force will receive its structure and mandate from peace terms that outline conflict areas combined with specific military strengths of Ukrainian and Russian defenders.
Starmer supported similar remarks voiced by United States and European Union officials to boost NATO defense commitments and expand alliance responsibilities among European member states. The eight NATO European member states among their thirty members remain below the defense spending benchmark that the alliance requires members to measure two percent of their GDP.
The UK defense budget currently takes up 2.3% of its GDP and intends to rise to 2.5% without the Labour government under Starmer specifying any time frame
During the recent Munich Security Conference European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared intentions to suggest an EU fiscal rule waiver provision. The proposed exemption would let chosen countries in the EU raise defense funding above deficit restrictions.
Starmer is expected to join a meeting in Paris later today alongside leaders from Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark, as well as Von der Leyen and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
