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Politics Home Article | The UK Will Send Troops In Ukraine To Protect Peace Deal, Says Starmer
Prime Minister Keir Starmer joined world leaders in the French capital to announce the Paris Declaration.
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The UK will send military personnel to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal as part of an agreement reached by world leaders in Paris on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the commitment alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a press conference this evening. They were joined by US representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
The arrangement, referred to as the ‘Paris Declaration’, is designed to deter Russia from attacking Ukraine following the signing of a peace agreement.
Speaking at the joint press conference, Starmer said: “We signed a declaration of intent on the deployment of forces to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal.
“This is a vital part of our iron-cast commitment to stand with Ukraine for the long term.
“It paves the way for the legal framework under which British, French and partner forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine’s skies and seas and regenerating Ukraine’s armed forces for the future.”
He added that the UK and France would also establish military hubs across Ukraine and build facilities to store weapons and military equipment.
Witkoff, who is US President Donald Trump’s envoy, said the US commitment to protect Ukraine would be “as strong as anyone has ever seen”.
“The President strongly stands behind security protocols,” he said. “Those security protocols are meant to a) deter any attacks in Ukraine and b) if there are any attacks, they are meant to defend. And they will do both.”
The willingness of the Trump administration to provide this security guarantee to Ukraine will be seen as a major breakthrough in London and other European capitals.
Witkoff added: “I do want to say this: We are here to mediate and help in the peace process, and we’re prepared to do anything necessary to get to that place.
“President Trump strongly, fervently believes that this killing has to stop, that the carnage has to stop.”
Zelensky said the agreement in Paris represented a “very concrete” moment in efforts to bring the conflict in Ukraine to an end.
It remains to be seen whether Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to agree to what is being prepared by Europe and the US, however.
Speaking at the press conference, Starmer said: “For all Russia’s words, Putin is not showing that he is ready for peace.
“Over the last few weeks, we have seen the opposite: further horrific strikes on Ukraine, killing and wounding civilians, and cutting off power from millions of people in the dead of winter. His forces hit a hospital in Kyiv just yesterday.”
