Keir Starmer Proposes US-backed Peace Deal with Troop Deployment to Ukraine Amid Tensions with European Leaders

Sir Keir Starmer has made it clear that any peace agreement for Ukraine must include a “US backstop” to ensure Russia cannot launch future attacks on the country. Following an urgent meeting with European leaders in Paris, the Prime Minister emphasised that he would consider sending British troops to Ukraine if a sustainable peace deal is achieved. He stressed that only a “US security guarantee” could truly deter Russia and stated he would discuss the details of such a deal with US President Donald Trump when they meet in Washington next week.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a key NATO ally, responded by saying that sending troops to Ukraine at this stage was “completely premature,” expressing frustration over the discussion.
Sir Keir also argued that Europe must take greater responsibility for its own security in the face of the ongoing threat from Russia. While he didn’t provide specific details about the “backstop,” his supporters suggest it could involve air support, logistics, and intelligence sharing.
The summit in Paris was convened to address concerns over the Trump administration’s decision to initiate peace talks with Russia in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, without involving Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made it clear that Kyiv was not informed of these talks and will not accept any agreements made without its participation. US officials have stated that European countries will be consulted about the talks, but not directly included.
French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted on Tuesday morning that he had spoken with both Trump and Zelensky. He stressed that collaboration between Europeans, Americans, and Ukrainians is essential and pledged to continue these talks in the coming days.
The meeting in Paris came shortly after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested that Europe should take on greater responsibility for its own security in the future. Sir Keir affirmed that the US would not abandon NATO, but that Europe must step up and take charge of its security. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk noted that transatlantic relations have entered a “new stage” and that Europe must develop a stronger capacity to defend itself.
Sir Keir proposed that any UK military involvement would be part of an international effort to patrol the border between Ukrainian and Russian-held territories.
Experts warn that creating an effective deterrent against Russian aggression would require a massive effort and a significant increase in defence spending. According to Malcolm Chalmers, deputy director of the Royal United Services Institute, the proposed force would be very different from UN peacekeeping troops, as it would need to deter Russian attacks. This would require not just well-equipped frontline forces, but also support troops, air forces, and much more, making the task much more complex.
General Sir Adrian Bradshaw, a former NATO commander, emphasised that such a force could not be a mere symbolic presence. It would have to act like NATO’s forces, deterring aggression, and would need a broader strategy to contain Russia, ensuring that any future conflict goes beyond Ukraine’s borders. He added that the force would need to be strong enough to repel an invasion.
Lord Dannatt, the former head of the British Army, has suggested that a force of around 100,000 troops would be necessary, with the UK contributing a significant portion. However, he acknowledged that the UK doesn’t currently have the necessary troop numbers, and building the military capacity for such a task would come at a high cost.
At present, the UK spends about 2.3% of its GDP on defence, with plans to increase that to 2.5%, though the timeline for this is unclear. Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition, has pledged to ensure that defence spending reaches this target and has called on European allies to invest more in defence, with many European leaders, such as Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, agreeing that Europe must increase its defence spending due to the ongoing threat from Russia. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also advocated for a “surge” in defence funding.
Sir Keir was joined by other European leaders, including the heads of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands, as well as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, in discussing these issues. Their concerns were heightened by comments from Peter Hegseth, who dismissed the likelihood of Ukraine returning to its pre-2014 borders, when Russia annexed Crimea, and downplayed the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO—something Sir Keir had described as an irreversible path for the country.
Sir Adrian highlighted that if Ukraine cannot regain its full sovereignty, the focus must shift to securing a lasting peace. Meanwhile, No. 10 confirmed Sir Keir’s trip to Washington, where he discussed the UK’s role as a bridge between the US and Europe. Following that trip, the UK Prime Minister offered to host a follow-up meeting of European leaders. Poland’s Tusk has already indicated his nation would not send troops into Ukraine, but would continue to support it with military, financial and humanitarian aid.
UK government sources argue it is “no surprise” there was a difference of opinion between leaders, and that not every nation is willing to show their hand quite yet.
British diplomats do not believe every nation would need to commit to contributing troops – but some would. And whatever Europe’s eventual role, US involvement would still be required.
Professor Chalmers stated that having a large number of NATO troops on Ukrainian territory after a ceasefire would be seen as a defeat for Russia, making it difficult for him to imagine Russia agreeing to such a presence as part of the agreement.
The deployment of British troops would also require parliamentary approval, something that Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey believes “all sides of the house are likely to support.”
A spokesperson for Sir Keir mentioned that Parliament would be consulted “when appropriate,” but emphasised that this was “jumping ahead of discussions” with other international leaders.
Fighting in Ukraine continued over the weekend, with local authorities reporting at least three civilian deaths from Russian airstrikes on Sunday. Several regions of Ukraine are also experiencing emergency blackouts due to attacks on energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, Russia’s defence ministry claimed it had intercepted and destroyed 90 Ukrainian drones on Sunday night.