KEIR Starmer confirmed he is prepared to ship British troops out to Ukraine if there is a deal to end the war with Russia, acknowledging this could put British troops “in harm’s way” if Vladimir Putin attacks again.
The Prime Minister is joining European leaders for emergency talks in Paris today as they scramble for a strategy in response to US President Donald Trump’s push for a deal with Russian President Putin and fears the US will reduce its defence commitments in the continent.
Starmer said the crisis was a “once in a generation moment” and an “existential” question for Europe.
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, the Prime Minister said the UK was “ready to play a leading role” in Ukraine’s defence and security, including the commitment of £3 billion a year until 2030.
But he said that along with military aid to Ukraine “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.”
The Prime Minister, who is due to visit Trump in Washington later this month, said: “While European nations must step up in 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 direct phone conversation with Putin on Wednesday.
But Ukrainian officials are not expected to be present for those talks at this stage, while other European leaders might not be involved in the process at all.
Starmer said: “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 warned of a repeat of the chaos that followed the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan under former president 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.”
He restated his position that Ukraine’s path to Nato membership is “irreversible” and suggested squeezing Russia’s economy by going further on the oil price cap, targeting the shadow fleet used to transport exports, sanctioning of oil giants and taking action against banks enabling the evasion of sanctions.
The US stance on Ukraine and demands for Europe to do more to pay for and provide its own security increased pressure for greater defence spending across the continent.
The meeting in Paris called by French President Emmanuel Macron will see Keir joined by leaders from Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark along with the presidents of the European Council and European Commission and the secretary general of Nato.
Starmer said: “I am heading to Paris today with a very clear message for our European friends.
But domestically, Starmer is unlikely to go beyond his commitment to set out a plan to increase defence spending to a 2.5% share of the economy, despite calls from Trump to hike spending to 5% and Nato chief Mark Rutte’s suggestion allies should spend more than 3%.
The UK currently spends around 2.3% of gross national product on defence.
Starmer said: “These crucial days ahead will determine the future security of our continent.
“As I will say in Paris later today: Peace comes through strength. But the reverse is also true. Weakness leads to war.
“This is the moment for us all to step up – and the UK will do so, because it is the right thing to do for the values and freedoms we hold dear, and because it is fundamental to our own national security.”
Speaking on Sunday, Trump said “we’re moving along, we’re trying to get a peace with Russia and Ukraine and we’re working very hard on it” and he promised that Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky “will be involved”.
