Paris, France: At an emergency summit in Paris, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he is open to deploying British forces to Ukraine if a lasting peace agreement is reached. However, he stressed that a US security backstop is necessary to effectively deter Russian aggression.
“I’m prepared to consider committing British forces on the ground alongside others if there’s a lasting peace agreement. But there must be a US backstop because a US security guarantee is the only way to effectively deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again,” Starmer stated.
European Leaders Reaffirm Support for Ukraine
The Paris summit, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, brought together top European leaders, including:
- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz
- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
- European Council President Antonio Costa
- NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
Despite expressing continued support for Ukraine, the leaders did not announce new security guarantees.
Differing Views on Troop Deployment
While Starmer signaled willingness to send British forces, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was strongly opposed, calling discussions about peacekeepers “completely premature” given the ongoing war.
“It is a difficult situation for Europe. We welcome talks about peace for Ukraine. But it must be a fair and sustainable peace. And: Ukraine must be part of these talks,” Scholz posted on X (formerly Twitter).
European Council President and Spain’s Stand
European Council President Antonio Costa emphasized that Ukraine deserves peace through strength and reaffirmed Europe’s commitment to military aid.
Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez warned against repeating past mistakes, ensuring that any peace deal does not allow Russia to annex foreign territory again.
Trump-Putin Talks Stir European Concerns
The summit followed a phone conversation last week between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which they reportedly agreed to start immediate negotiations to end the war.
This move sparked concerns among European leaders, who felt left out of the diplomatic process and feared a shift in the West’s approach toward isolating Putin.