Sir Keir Starmer attended a meeting of senior military leaders in London, where he warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin would breach any peace deal with Ukraine unless it is properly defended. The UK prime minister emphasized the importance of having security arrangements in place to ensure the lasting success of any agreement to stop the fighting between Russia and Ukraine. Speaking at Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood, London, Sir Keir Starmer stressed the need for clear security arrangements to deter Russia from violating any deal.
More than 20 countries gathered at the closed meeting in London to discuss proposals for troops in Ukraine that would help guarantee the country’s security as part of a potential peace deal. Sir Keir Starmer outlined the significance of having security measures that would communicate to Russia the severe consequences of breaching any agreement. He expressed the urgency of transitioning from “political momentum” to “military planning” in order to support any potential deal between Russia and Ukraine.
The UK and its allies are focused on ensuring that there is substance behind any deal with Russia, as past experiences have shown that Putin is willing to breach agreements. Sir Keir Starmer ruled out redeploying UK troops from other countries to support Ukraine, reaffirming the UK’s commitment to its existing alliances. The meeting of military leaders in London, attended by UK Defence Secretary John Healey, aimed to engage in detailed planning for any future deployment of troops in Ukraine.
The potential deployment of troops to Ukraine is being described as a “reassurance force” rather than a “peacekeeping force” by defense and diplomatic sources. Earlier, Sir Keir Starmer visited the Port of Barrow in Cumbria, where the UK’s nuclear submarines are built, before discussing strategies to enhance the safety and security of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during a visit to Norway, stressed the need for Russia to stop prolonging the war with unnecessary demands, as efforts continue to secure a ceasefire between the two nations
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