PM 'ready and willing' to put UK troops in Ukraine 'to deter Putin's aggression'

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said he is “ready and willing” to deploy UK troops to Ukraine, signalling a dramatic escalation in Britain’s involvement in the conflict, following peace deal talks between Putin and Donald Trump.

He said UK troops could be deployed on the border between Ukrainian-held and Russian-held territory, alongside soldiers from other European nations.

This comes as European leaders meet in Paris on Monday in an emergency summit to discuss the developments coming from America.

The Prime Minister wrote in the Daily Telegraph: "I do not say that lightly. I feel very deeply the responsibility that comes with potentially putting British servicemen and women in harm's way.

"But any role in helping to guarantee Ukraine's security is helping to guarantee the security of our continent, and the security of this country."

Starmer noted Donald Trump's peace efforts, and said: "US support will remain critical and a US security guarantee is essential for a lasting peace, because only the US can deter Putin from attacking again.

"So I will be meeting President Trump in the coming days and working with him and all our G7 partners to help secure the strong deal we need."

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US national security adviser Mike Waltz and Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff are heading to Saudi Arabia to initiate negotiations toward peace between Russia and Ukraine.

However, a senior Ukrainian government source has said that Kyiv has not been invited to US-Russia peace negotiations. European leaders have yet to be invited to peace talks either, and will discuss their next move at the Paris summit chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Sir Keir Starmer confirmed the UK has already committed £3billion a year until at least 2030 and said that security for Ukraine is "helping to guarantee the security of our continent and the security of this country."

Sir Keir also wrote: “These crucial days ahead will determine the future security of our continent. As I will say in Paris, peace comes through strength. But the reverse is also true. Weakness leads to war.

“This is the moment for us all to step up – and the UK will do so, because it is the right thing to do for the values and freedoms we hold dear, and because it is fundamental to our own national security.”