Prime Minister Keir Starmer made a bold statement on Sunday, declaring that the United Kingdom is “ready and willing” to send troops to Ukraine to help secure the country’s safety. Starmer’s offer comes as he and other European leaders prepare to coordinate a response to President Trump’s ongoing negotiations with Russia regarding the war in Ukraine.
In an article published in The Daily Telegraph, Starmer said that he was “ready and willing to contribute to security guarantees for Ukraine, including the deployment of British troops on the ground if needed.” This marks the first time Starmer has publicly suggested that Britain could send troops to Ukraine.
The idea of Western peacekeeping forces in Ukraine, first proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron last year, was initially dismissed by NATO members. However, the concept has gained traction in recent months, particularly with Trump’s upcoming inauguration.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed appreciation for Starmer’s proposal, calling it an “important” step in ongoing discussions about peacekeeping forces, despite continued skepticism in Europe.
While Starmer had hinted in January that Britain might be open to the idea, his article left no room for doubt, stressing that the decision to deploy troops would not be made lightly. He emphasized that a long-lasting peace in Ukraine is crucial for safeguarding its sovereignty and preventing further aggression from Russian President Vladimir Putin. “When the war ends, it must not simply be a temporary pause before Putin attacks again,” Starmer warned.
The timing of Starmer’s article is significant, as it comes just before key talks between Washington and Moscow aimed at resolving the conflict, as well as an emergency meeting of European leaders to discuss their response.
Notably, the Kremlin did not immediately reject Starmer’s proposal, a shift from its usual stance, where any suggestions of increased NATO involvement were typically condemned as steps toward broader conflict. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov noted that the idea of NATO forces in Ukraine remains a “complicated question,” and no substantial discussions have yet taken place.
On Tuesday, U.S. and Russian officials will meet in Saudi Arabia for what are described as preliminary talks, though this has raised concerns in Europe about the lack of Ukrainian and European participation. Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, and senior foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, will attend the talks.
The meeting in Riyadh is expected to focus on restoring U.S.-Russia relations, as well as laying the groundwork for possible peace negotiations over Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned that if the opportunity arises, broader discussions including Ukraine and European concerns may take place.
As Trump seeks a swift resolution to the war through bilateral negotiations with Russia, Starmer and other European leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark are set to gather in Paris to discuss the conflict and European security.
In his article, Starmer reiterated his call for increased military spending and a stronger role for NATO, while affirming that Ukraine’s NATO membership is “irreversible,” a point of divergence from the Trump administration, which opposes Ukraine’s entry into the alliance. Starmer is scheduled to meet with Trump in Washington next week.
While Ukraine has long pursued NATO membership as a safeguard against Russian aggression, joining the alliance during the war would risk direct conflict with Russia, making its membership unlikely.
Starmer also emphasized the need for continued collaboration between Europe and the United States to secure a lasting peace deal. “A U.S. security guarantee is essential for lasting peace, as only the U.S. can deter Putin from further attacks,” he wrote.
In Britain, the response to Starmer’s peacekeeping proposal has been cautious. While there is broad support for Ukraine, sending British troops into combat remains politically sensitive, especially in light of the challenges faced by previous military engagements, such as those in Afghanistan and Iraq.
John Sawers, former head of MI6, warned of the risks involved in such an operation, stressing the importance of clearly defining the mission and rules of engagement if Russian forces were to attack.