Europe Starmer: Great Britain ready for Ukraine peacekeeping force
On the eve of a crisis meeting of European supporters of Ukraine, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed his "readiness and willingness" to send peacekeeping troops to the country attacked by Russia if necessary.
17.02.2025, 02:00
SDA
In a guest article for the Telegraph, Starmer wrote that the UK could play a "leading role" in working on security guarantees for Ukraine. In the event of the end of the war, this would also mean deploying troops on the ground if necessary. It is the first time that Starmer has been so specific about this.
"I am not saying this lightly," the Prime Minister wrote in the article, which was published on the evening before today's summit meeting of European heads of state and government in Paris. He is aware of the responsibility that comes with the fact that British servicemen and women may be put in danger.
"But any role in ensuring the security of Ukraine helps to ensure the security of our continent and the security of this country," Starmer wrote. The end of the war that has been going on since February 2022, if it comes, should not just be a pause before Russian President Vladimir Putin allows his troops to attack again.
Summit meeting of heads of state and government in Paris
In addition to Starmer, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the heads of state and government of Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark are also expected in Paris. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Council President António Costa and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will also be present. The host is French President Emmanuel Macron.
The Europeans will discuss how to deal with the change of course in US policy in the Ukraine war. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and senior Russian representatives reportedly want to discuss an end to the Russian war of aggression in Saudi Arabia this week - without the involvement of Ukraine or other European representatives.
Starmer wrote that he would meet US President Donald Trump "in the coming days". Europe and the United States must continue to work closely together on the Ukraine issue, the British Prime Minister emphasized. According to diplomats, the question of what the Europeans can contribute to a possible peace deal will also be discussed in Paris. The possibility of deploying a peacekeeping force has been discussed repeatedly in recent weeks, particularly in France and the UK.
