Following a conference of senior military leaders in London, Sir Keir Starmer stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin would violate a peace agreement with Ukraine if it was not upheld.
According to the prime minister of the United Kingdom, any deal to halt the conflict between Russia and Ukraine would “only be lasting” if “security arrangements in place” were in place.
He was addressing a closed-door conference at Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood, London, where over 20 nations discussed plans to send soldiers to Ukraine as part of any peace agreement to help ensure the country’s security.
“Severe consequences if they are to breach any deal” will be made evident to Russia via security measures, according to Sir Keir.
Before a deal was reached, the prime minister claimed that the UK and its allies were shifting from “political momentum” to “military planning,” which needed “to be done now.”
“We know for sure that a deal with nothing behind it is something that Putin will break, so it is crucial that we do that work,” he said.
“We are aware of that since it has already occurred. I have no doubt that it will occur once more.
Redeploying UK troops from nations like Estonia to Kyiv is not an option, according to Sir Keir, who stated: “There is no pulling back from our commitments to other countries.”
At the closed gathering of military chieftains from nations that make up what Sir Keir has called the “coalition of the willing” was UK Defense Secretary John Healey.
The military leaders will participate in “granular planning” for the specifics of any possible deployment, according to Downing Street.
Following a 26-nation summit earlier this month, the UK convened the military chiefs’ meeting.
According to defense and diplomatic officials, the possible troop deployment should be referred to as a “reassurance force” rather than a “peacekeeping force”.
Sir Keir had already seen the Port of Barrow, which is where the UK’s nuclear submarines are constructed in Cumbria, in north-west England.
How to “keep the skies, and the seas, and the borders safe in Ukraine” is the main topic of discussion, he told reporters during the London talks.
Luke Pollard, the minister of armed forces, stated prior to the meeting that “we are not yet talking about numbers” of possible UK troop deployments to Ukraine “because we are still designing the shape of the force.”
He gave the following example: “How would the other nations cooperate with one that provides quick jet combat air, such as a Typhoon aircraft, for example? Where is it going to refuel? How will it function given the capabilities of other countries?
Discussions to make sure “any force in or around Ukraine can be as credible as possible” are what the minister of armed forces stated he expected to happen.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia “must stop making unnecessary demands that only prolong the war” during a visit to Norway on Thursday.
The 30-day truce that the White House had hoped for has not materialized despite calls between US President Donald Trump, Putin, and Zelensky.
Following the Kremlin’s confirmation of US-Russian talks in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, Zelensky announced that Ukrainian officials would meet with their American counterparts there on Monday of next week.
Following more than three years of conflict, the US is attempting to mediate a truce between the two countries at the most recent negotiations.
In talks with the US, Zelensky and Putin both agreed to a ceasefire in principle; yet, due to conflicting circumstances, one has not yet come to pass.
