It is understood to be the first time the PM has been explicit about sending British peacekeepers to Ukraine
Keir Starmer has said he is prepared to put British troops on the ground in Ukraine if there is a deal to end the war with Russia – acknowledging it could put UK forces “in harm’s way” if Vladimir Putin launches another attack.
It is understood to be the first time the prime minister has explicitly stated he is considering deploying British peacekeepers to Ukraine. The comments came just before emergency talks with European leaders in Paris on Monday.
The leaders will aim to devise a strategy in response to Donald Trump’s push for a deal with the Russian president and to fears the US will reduce its defence commitments in Europe.
Starmer said the crisis was a “once in a generation moment” and an “existential” question for Europe.
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he said the UK was “ready to play a leading role” in Ukraine’s defence and security, including the commitment of £3bn a year until 2030. Starmer said that along with military aid, “it also means being ready and willing to contribute to security guarantees to Ukraine by putting our own troops on the ground if necessary”.
“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,” Starmer said.
“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.”
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, UK prime ministers have refused to publicly consider sending British soldiers.
Military chiefs believe the UK cannot meet its existing military commitments – even before any involvement in any Ukraine peacekeeping force – within the existing defence budget of £64bn which amounts to 2.33% of GDP. But insiders have said Britain is willing to provide troops to a multinational peacekeeping force if that is what emerges from diplomatic efforts.
Labour has promised to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP but has not set a date as to when, while Trump is calling for all European countries to increase it to 5%. Reports suggest British military chiefs are pushing for an increase over time to 2.65%
Starmer had previously suggested that British troops could be involved in safeguarding Ukraine after a ceasefire. The UK’s prime minister, who is due to visit Trump in Washington later this month, said: “While European nations must step up at this moment – and we will – US support will remain critical and a US security guarantee is essential for a lasting peace because only the US can deter Putin from attacking again.”
Representatives of the US administration and Russian counterparts are expected to meet in Saudi Arabia for talks following Trump’s phone conversation with Putin last Wednesday.
But Ukrainian officials are not expected to be at the table at this stage and other European leaders might not be involved in the process at all.
Starmer added: “We must be clear that peace cannot come at any cost. Ukraine must be at the table in these negotiations because anything less would accept Putin’s position that Ukraine is not a real nation.”
He also warned of a repeat of the chaos after the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan in August 2021 under Joe Biden, which followed a deal struck with the Taliban under Trump.
“We cannot have another situation like Afghanistan, where the US negotiated directly with the Taliban and cut out the Afghan government,” Starmer said.
“I feel sure that President Trump will want to avoid this too.”
Any stepped-up UK military involvement would add to cost pressures, and the heads of the armed forces met Starmer individually on Friday to discuss the state of the military at a time when the army is struggling for numbers and is at its smallest size in over 200 years.
A defence source said the chiefs were not seeking to lobby the PM explicitly over defence spending but rather to “build up the PM’s knowledge of the armed forces” as a defence review led by the former Nato chief George Robertson heads towards its conclusion.
The service heads believe that despite Treasury concerns over additional spending, it is impossible for the UK to maintain existing political commitments to Nato, the Aukus nuclear submarine programme and next-generation fighter jets within existing budgets.
Source: The Guardian
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