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Starmer Calls for US 'Backstop' for Ukraine Peace Deal After European Leaders' Meeting
UK Prime Minister states that US security guarantees are essential to deter further Russian aggression, ahead of discussions with President Trump.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has articulated that any peace deal for Ukraine necessitates a "US backstop" to prevent further Russian aggression.
His comments followed a meeting with European leaders in Paris, where he suggested that he would consider the deployment of UK troops to Ukraine contingent upon a sustainable peace agreement.
Starmer emphasized that a US security guarantee is crucial for effectively deterring Russia, and he plans to discuss essential aspects of a potential peace deal with US President Donald Trump in Washington next week.
During the meeting at the Élysée Palace, European leaders deliberated on the implications of the Trump administration's intent to engage in peace talks with Russia, scheduled to begin in Saudi Arabia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed that Kyiv was not informed about these talks and would not accept any agreements made without its participation.
US officials indicated that while European nations would be consulted on the peace talks, they would not have a direct role in them.
In light of ongoing security concerns regarding Russia, Starmer contended that European nations need to take on a more significant responsibility for their defense.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk remarked on a new phase in transatlantic relations, emphasizing the need for Europe to bolster its defense capabilities.
Starmer pointed out the necessity of a multinational force to monitor the borders between Ukrainian-held and Russian-held territories, though experts noted that such a force would require extensive resources and significant increases in defense spending.
Malcolm Chalmers from the Royal United Services Institute indicated that establishing a presence capable of deterring Russian incursions would be a substantial challenge, needing well-equipped and credible military forces.
General Sir Adrian Bradshaw, a former NATO commander, stressed that the proposed force must be robust enough to actively deter aggression, paralleling NATO’s capabilities in Europe.
Estimates suggest that around 100,000 troops may be required to effectively fulfill such a role, with the UK possibly contributing a sizable portion of that force.
Currently, the UK allocates approximately 2.3% of its GDP to defense, with plans to increase this to 2.5%, although a timeline for achieving this goal has not been disclosed.
Starmer has stated that a detailed plan for this commitment will be revealed following a strategic defense review.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed Starmer's sentiments, advocating for increased defense spending in Europe in response to the current security landscape.
The Paris summit occurred amid previous remarks by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who suggested that expectations for Ukraine to regain territory lost to Russia since 2014 were optimistic.
He also downplayed Ukraine's potential NATO membership, a principle that Starmer affirmed to be on an "irreversible" track.
Following the Paris meeting, no commitment to deploying troops has been finalized, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz labeling discussions about troop involvement as "premature".
Meanwhile, Poland has committed to providing military, financial, and humanitarian support to Ukraine without deploying troops.
Discussions regarding troop contributions would necessitate parliamentary approval in the UK, which the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, suggested would likely find consensus across party lines.
The government stated that Parliament would be kept informed as discussions progress with international leaders.
As diplomatic engagements continue, fighting in Ukraine persists, with local authorities reporting civilian casualties from Russian strikes and ongoing attacks on energy infrastructure.
Russia’s defense ministry announced the interception and destruction of 90 Ukrainian drones over the weekend, indicating a continued escalation of hostilities.
His comments followed a meeting with European leaders in Paris, where he suggested that he would consider the deployment of UK troops to Ukraine contingent upon a sustainable peace agreement.
Starmer emphasized that a US security guarantee is crucial for effectively deterring Russia, and he plans to discuss essential aspects of a potential peace deal with US President Donald Trump in Washington next week.
During the meeting at the Élysée Palace, European leaders deliberated on the implications of the Trump administration's intent to engage in peace talks with Russia, scheduled to begin in Saudi Arabia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed that Kyiv was not informed about these talks and would not accept any agreements made without its participation.
US officials indicated that while European nations would be consulted on the peace talks, they would not have a direct role in them.
In light of ongoing security concerns regarding Russia, Starmer contended that European nations need to take on a more significant responsibility for their defense.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk remarked on a new phase in transatlantic relations, emphasizing the need for Europe to bolster its defense capabilities.
Starmer pointed out the necessity of a multinational force to monitor the borders between Ukrainian-held and Russian-held territories, though experts noted that such a force would require extensive resources and significant increases in defense spending.
Malcolm Chalmers from the Royal United Services Institute indicated that establishing a presence capable of deterring Russian incursions would be a substantial challenge, needing well-equipped and credible military forces.
General Sir Adrian Bradshaw, a former NATO commander, stressed that the proposed force must be robust enough to actively deter aggression, paralleling NATO’s capabilities in Europe.
Estimates suggest that around 100,000 troops may be required to effectively fulfill such a role, with the UK possibly contributing a sizable portion of that force.
Currently, the UK allocates approximately 2.3% of its GDP to defense, with plans to increase this to 2.5%, although a timeline for achieving this goal has not been disclosed.
Starmer has stated that a detailed plan for this commitment will be revealed following a strategic defense review.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed Starmer's sentiments, advocating for increased defense spending in Europe in response to the current security landscape.
The Paris summit occurred amid previous remarks by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who suggested that expectations for Ukraine to regain territory lost to Russia since 2014 were optimistic.
He also downplayed Ukraine's potential NATO membership, a principle that Starmer affirmed to be on an "irreversible" track.
Following the Paris meeting, no commitment to deploying troops has been finalized, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz labeling discussions about troop involvement as "premature".
Meanwhile, Poland has committed to providing military, financial, and humanitarian support to Ukraine without deploying troops.
Discussions regarding troop contributions would necessitate parliamentary approval in the UK, which the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, suggested would likely find consensus across party lines.
The government stated that Parliament would be kept informed as discussions progress with international leaders.
As diplomatic engagements continue, fighting in Ukraine persists, with local authorities reporting civilian casualties from Russian strikes and ongoing attacks on energy infrastructure.
Russia’s defense ministry announced the interception and destruction of 90 Ukrainian drones over the weekend, indicating a continued escalation of hostilities.
