UK Suggests Deploying Peacekeeping Forces to Ukraine Before Paris Discussions

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has become the first European leader to express his readiness to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, making this commitment ahead of an emergency leaders’ meeting in Paris to discuss Europe’s role in a ceasefire. His statement highlighted a growing recognition among European nations that they may need to take on a more significant role in securing Ukraine’s safety, as the U.S. continues to engage with Russia separately on a potential resolution to the three-year-long conflict.
Sweden, through Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, also expressed a willingness to consider contributing to post-war peacekeeping forces in Ukraine, though he emphasised that further negotiations would be necessary before any decisions could be made.
U.S. President Donald Trump surprised Ukraine and its European allies last week by revealing that he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin about ending the war, without consulting European leaders. This move set the stage for further discussions this week between U.S. and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia.
Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, stated on Saturday that Europe would not be involved in any peace negotiations, while Washington sought input from European capitals on how they could contribute to security assurances for Kyiv.
At Monday’s summit in Paris, President Emmanuel Macron was to host leaders from Germany, Italy, Britain, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark, as well as representatives from the European Union and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The meeting aimed to discuss the “security guarantees” that could be provided by Europe and the U.S., with peacekeeping troops being just one aspect of those guarantees.
Starmer, who plans to visit Washington next week to meet with Trump, emphasized that Europe is facing a pivotal moment for its collective security and must closely collaborate with the United States. He stated that Britain is prepared to play a leading role in providing security guarantees for Ukraine, including the potential deployment of British troops on the ground if needed.
The Paris summit comes after multiple EU meetings failed to produce a unified approach to ending the war in Ukraine. While the UK is not part of the EU, it has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine throughout the conflict.