U.Ok. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has mentioned he’s keen to deploy British peacekeeping troops in Ukraine if wanted. His remarks come shortly earlier than Trump administration officers are anticipated to fulfill Russian officers in Riyadh on Tuesday (February 18, 2025) to extend bilateral engagement and to debate an finish to the Russia-Ukraine struggle. The leaders of the EU and U.Ok. weren’t invited to the talks, assembly as an alternative in Paris on Monday (February 17, 2025) to debate the struggle and the negotiations.
Writing within the Telegraph newspaper, Mr Starmer mentioned the U.Ok. was able to play a management function by way of safety ensures for Ukraine. This may not simply imply persevering with monetary help to Kyiv, he mentioned, but in addition “placing our personal troops on the bottom if essential.”
Mr Starmer additionally wrote that Ukraine would needed to have a spot on the negotiation desk. He additionally referred to as for U.S. safety ensures for Ukraine and for European nations to do extra for the safety of the continent.
Mr Starmer warned that Europe was going through a “as soon as in a era” second by way of its safety and an “existential” query not only for Ukraine but in addition Europe.
Mr Starmer mentioned that in Paris he would inform his counterparts that Europe had to do extra for its personal safety. Mr Trump has been pushing members of the North Atlantic Treaty Group (NATO) army alliance to spend 5% yearly of their GDP on defence, up from the rule 2%. The UK’s determine is presently 2.3% , with plans to spend 2.5% of GDP, however with no set deadline attain that focus on.
“We’ve got received to indicate we’re actually severe about our personal defence and bearing our personal burden. We’ve got talked about it for too lengthy — and president Trump is correct to demand that we get on with it,” Mr Starmer wrote.
The Prime Minister can be hoping to capitalize on a risk that Mr Trump’s strategy to the U.Ok. is completely different from his view of the EU, with US-EU ties fraying. Mr Trump had mentioned that he appreciated Mr Starmer “lots” on the finish of January and the British Prime Minister is predicted on the White Home on the finish of the month.
“U.S. help will stay important and a U.S. safety assure is important for a long-lasting peace, as a result of solely the US can deter Putin from attacking,” Mr Starmer wrote, including that he would press Mr Trump for a “robust” deal for Ukraine.
“Ukraine should be on the desk in these negotiations, as a result of something much less would settle for Putin’s place that Ukraine shouldn’t be an actual nation,” Mr Starmer wrote. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected any deal with out Kyiv on the desk.
On Monday Mr Zelenskyy mentioned that he didn’t know concerning the U.S.-Russia talks and was not collaborating in them. On Sunday, Mr Trump had mentioned that the Ukrainian president can be concerned within the talks.
“We can’t have one other scenario like Afghanistan, the place the US negotiated straight with the Taliban and reduce out the Afghan authorities,” Mr Starmer wrote, including that he felt Mr Trump would additionally wish to keep away from a repeat of such a scenario.
Printed – February 17, 2025 09:43 pm IST
