British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer on Wednesday urged the United States to provide a security backstop to any future European peacekeepers in Ukraine.
He said only that would offer Kyiv a lasting peace rather than a temporary ceasefire.
Starmer, heading to Washington for a meeting with US President Donald Trump, again said Britain would play its part in any peacekeeping role in Ukraine, but could only do so with some kind of backup from the United States.
Since Trump abandoned Washington’s more Ukraine-friendly approach to Russia’s war, Britain and other European nations have scrambled to demonstrate a united front and stepped up diplomatic efforts in support of Kyiv.
However, there are still differences over any future deployment of troops in Ukraine, with some European nations including France ready to do so, while others, such as Poland, have ruled it out.
Russia again on Wednesday said it could not consider any options for European peacekeepers being sent to Ukraine.
For Starmer, the crucial part of plans for a Ukraine peace deal is securing what he calls a backstop from Trump, something that has yet to be clearly defined.
“I’m absolutely convinced that we need a lasting peace, not a ceasefire, and for that to happen we need security guarantees.
“Precisely what that layers up to, what that looks like, is obviously a subject of intense discussion,” he said.
Russia vs Ukraine: Only US backstop can secure lasting Ukraine peace – UK PM, Starmer
