Keir Starmer Offers to Send U.K. Troops to Ukraine as Part of Peace Deal

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has offered British troops to help ensure Ukraine’s security as part of any peace deal. He made this offer during a meeting with other European leaders to coordinate a response to President Trump’s discussions with Russia on ending the war in Ukraine.

In an article published in The Daily Telegraph, Mr. Starmer stated that he is prepared to contribute to security guarantees for Ukraine by deploying British troops if necessary.

This marks the first time Mr. Starmer has explicitly mentioned the possibility of sending British troops to Ukraine. The idea of Western peacekeeping troops in Ukraine was initially dismissed by NATO members but has gained support in recent months.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine welcomed Mr. Starmer’s announcement, calling it an important step in European discussions about forming a peacekeeping force, despite some skepticism.

Mr. Starmer had previously hinted at Britain’s openness to the idea in January, but his recent article in The Daily Telegraph leaves no room for interpretation. He emphasized that the decision to deploy British troops was not taken lightly.

He stressed the importance of securing a lasting peace in Ukraine to prevent further aggression from President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.

Mr. Starmer’s article comes ahead of talks between Washington and Moscow on ending the war and an emergency meeting among European leaders to formulate a response.

Notably, the Kremlin did not outright reject Mr. Starmer’s proposal, signaling a potential shift in Russia’s stance towards NATO involvement in Ukraine.

The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitri S. Peskov, stated that deploying NATO forces in Ukraine is a complex issue that requires substantive discussions.

American and Russian officials are set to meet in Saudi Arabia for preliminary talks on Russian-American relations and a potential Ukrainian settlement.

The meeting in Riyadh will focus on restoring Russian-American relations and preparing for negotiations on Ukraine.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned the possibility of broader conversations involving Ukraine and Europe if the opportunity arises.

The Riyadh meeting highlights President Trump’s accelerated efforts to reach a deal to end the war bilaterally with Russia, excluding European and Ukrainian involvement.

European leaders will convene in Paris to discuss the war and European security, with Mr. Starmer advocating for increased military spending and a greater role in NATO.

Mr. Starmer’s article also asserts that Ukraine’s path to joining NATO is irreversible, despite differing views from the Trump administration.

Ukraine’s aspiration to join NATO aims to deter future Russian aggression, although membership during the war remains unlikely.

Mr. Starmer emphasizes the importance of continued collaboration between Europe and the United States to achieve a lasting peace deal.

He underscores the necessity of a U.S. security guarantee to deter further aggression from President Putin.

While there is cautious support in Britain for Mr. Starmer’s proposal on peacekeepers, the risks and challenges of deploying troops into combat situations are acknowledged.

Former British intelligence chief John Sawers highlights the importance of clarity on the mission and rules of engagement if troops are deployed.

Anton Troianovski, Stephen Castle, and Andrew E. Kramer contributed to this report.