Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is ready to send British soldiers to Ukraine, he will announce on Monday.
The troops would be put on the ground as part of a peacekeeping force in the country if a deal to end the conflict were reached.
The Prime Minister wrote that he had not taken the decision that could see British servicemen and women “in harm’s way” lightly in an article for the Telegraph.
Sir Keir wrote: “The UK is ready to play a leading role in accelerating work on security guarantees for Ukraine. This includes further support for Ukraine’s military – where the UK has already committed £3billion a year until at least 2030.”
Starmer has explicitly said he is considering deploying British peacekeepers to Ukraine (Image: Getty)
He added: “But it also means being ready and willing to contribute to security guarantees to Ukraine by putting our own troops on the ground if necessary. 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 help ing to guarantee the security of our continent and the security of this country. The end of this war, when it comes, cannot merely become a temporary pause before Putin attacks again.”
In recent days, the prospect of a deal to end the war in Ukraine has been placed at the forefront of international discussions.
The US President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin had a 90-minute phone call earlier this week.
This has led to concern that Russia may be given concessions as regards territory in Ukraine before discussions even begin.
Donald Trump wants to make a deal with Putin to end the conflict (Image: Getty)
European leaders have also sought reassurance that Ukraine would be involved in any peace negotiations.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said that it “unrealistic” for Ukraine to return to its pre-2014 borders.
Putin invaded the Crimea in that year. Now, he is thought to have occupied around a fifth of Ukraine after launching a full scale takeover attempt in February 2022.
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.”
