British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he is prepared to deploy British troops on the ground in Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping force if a deal to end the war with Russia is reached.
Ahead of an emergency meeting of European leaders in Paris on Monday, Starmer said he was “ready and willing” to commit troops while pledging £3 billion annually until 2030 for Ukraine’s defence and security.
The Paris summit, hastily arranged by French President Emmanuel Macron, comes as U.S. officials prepare for peace talks with Russia in Saudi Arabia, to which European representatives have not been invited.
The meeting will bring together key European figures including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO chief Mark Rutte.
Uncertainty surrounds Ukraine’s participation in the Saudi talks. While one Ukrainian official indicated a delegation is in Saudi Arabia preparing for a possible visit from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, his adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said there was “nothing on the negotiating table that would be worth discussing.”
U.S. President Donald Trump’s push for a swift resolution to the conflict has raised concerns among European leaders. Following recent communications with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump has repeatedly mentioned upcoming peace discussions, though European involvement remains unclear.
Zelenskyy has maintained he will not accept any negotiations that exclude Ukraine. (incyprus)
