UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has declared his country stands "ready and willing" to deploy troops to Ukraine to help ensure its security as part of a prospective peace agreement.
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Starmer emphasised that securing a durable peace in Ukraine is "essential if we are to deter [Russian President Vladimir] Putin from further aggression in the future."
Ahead of an emergency summit with European leaders in Paris on Monday, Starmer affirmed Britain’s willingness to contribute to Ukraine’s security guarantees, stating: "We are prepared to put our own troops on the ground if necessary."
"I do not say that lightly," he continued. "I feel very deeply the responsibility that comes with potentially putting British servicemen and women in harm’s way."
The prime minister underscored that any British role in guaranteeing Ukraine’s security would directly contribute to "the security of our continent and this country."
Starmer warned that the conclusion of Russia’s war in Ukraine "cannot merely become a temporary pause before Putin attacks again."
As part of broader European efforts, British troops could be stationed alongside other European forces on the borders between Ukrainian-held and Russian-occupied territory.
The announcement comes amid concerns over the UK’s military readiness.
Former Chief of the General Staff Lord Dannatt recently told the BBC that Britain’s armed forces were "so run down" that they could not feasibly lead a future peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.
Until now, Starmer had only hinted at the possibility of British troops playing a role in safeguarding Ukraine post-ceasefire. His latest remarks mark a significant shift in Britain’s stance.
The UK prime minister is set to visit former US President Donald Trump in Washington later this month.
He reiterated that "a US security guarantee is essential for a lasting peace, because only the US can deter Putin from attacking again."
Starmer’s European engagements come in response to growing concerns that the United States is advancing peace talks with Russia that exclude European stakeholders.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to meet Russian officials in Saudi Arabia in the coming days, while US special envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg has stated that European leaders will be consulted but not included in the negotiations.
Trump reportedly "informed" Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of his plan and later stated that he expected Kyiv’s involvement in the talks. He also suggested that European nations would be permitted to purchase American weapons for Ukraine.
