The forces would be deployed only after a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine is signed.
Starmer, Macron and Zelensky held a joint press conference today (Image: Getty)
British troops will be sent to Ukraine to secure the country’s “skies and seas” should a ceasefire be agreed with Putin’s Russia, Sir Keir Starmer announced on Tuesday. A deal, announced jointly by the UK Prime Minister and French President Emmanuel Macron, will see European forces stationed in the country to deter future acts of Russian aggression. Speaking at a press conference at the Elysees Palace in France, the Prime Minister said that peace was “closer than ever”, as he announced that “UK and France [would] establish military hubs across Ukraine” in the event of a ceasefire.
Sir Keir added that the UK would also “build protected facilities for weapons and military equipment to support Ukraine‘s defensive needs” and supply arms to assist in the regeneration of the country’s military. Welcoming the agreement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the arrangement was crucial to “prevent future Russian aggression”.
President Macron said that the partners had made “considerable progress” toward “providing strong guarantees for lasting peace”.
He added that the agreement would see “operational convergence between the 35 countries making up the coalition of the willing, Ukraine and the United States of America”.
Thirty-five world leaders met, alongside Donald Trump‘s envoy Steve Witkoff and the President’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
The agreement states that the US will lead a “ceasefire monitoring system”, with a multinational force to be sent into Ukraine after a deal with Russia is agreed.
The multinational force will cover “reassurance measures in the air, at sea and on land” for Ukraine, and will also focus on the “regeneration” of the country’s armed forces.
The press conference was attended also by Volodymyr Zelensky (Image: Getty)
Whilst the deployments in Ukraine itself would be “European-led” the US has agreed to “support” those forces “in case of attack” by Russia, should a ceasefire deal be reached.
Peace talks between Mr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin have stalled after the Ukrainian President previously rejected demands to surrender territory to the Russians after the unlawful invasion ordered by the Kremlin in 2022.
Speaking at the post-signing press conference, Mr Zelensky said their work was needed “on the issue of territory”, adding that there would be “other discussions” on that subject in the near future.
Mr Trump’s envoy Mr Witkoff said that the security guarantees were “largely finished”, and said that the last part of a peace deal with Russia “centres around territory”, adding that the US would “help to mediate and help in the peace process”.
