UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated on Monday that he was prepared to deploy troops to Ukraine “if necessary”, emphasizing the importance of European security. His remarks follow a significant shift in U.S. policy on the war since Donald Trump assumed the presidency.
Trump appeared to sideline Ukraine and its European allies by directly engaging with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss possible negotiations to end the conflict. With a Trump-Putin meeting expected soon, European leaders are accelerating discussions on regional security.
Describing the current situation as a “once-in-a-generation moment,” Starmer expressed willingness to deploy British troops if required, stating, “Any role in guaranteeing Ukraine’s security is also safeguarding Europe’s and the UK’s security,” as reported by The Daily Telegraph.
Leaders from major European nations, including the UK, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark, are set to attend a Paris meeting just a week before the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (February 24).
Also attending are European Council President Antonio Costa, EU Chief Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. French President Emmanuel Macron’s office stated the meeting will focus on “the situation in Ukraine” and “security in Europe.”
An adviser from Macron’s office stated, “Given the acceleration of the Ukrainian issue and the statements from U.S. leaders, it’s crucial for Europeans to take more action, improve coordination, and contribute to our collective security.”
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has pushed for negotiations between U.S. and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia in the coming days, not only to discuss the war in Ukraine but also to address broader security concerns in Europe.
EU nations are concerned that Putin might reiterate demands he made before the 2022 invasion, particularly regarding limiting NATO forces in Eastern Europe and restricting American involvement in the region.
Donald Trump has expressed belief that Putin genuinely seeks to end the war in Ukraine, while his administration has warned that Europe will no longer be the U.S.’s top security priority. U.S. Defense Chief Pete Hegseth also suggested that Ukraine’s NATO membership or reclaiming lost territories from Russia were unlikely.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio minimized the significance of talks between Washington and Moscow, stating, “A process toward peace is not a one-meeting event.” He clarified that the aim was to create an opening for a broader conversation that would include Ukraine and work towards ending the war.
Trump’s Ukraine special envoy, Keith Kellogg, mentioned that Europe would not directly participate in talks about Kyiv, though it would still have input.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday called for the establishment of an European army, arguing that with such a force, Europe could no longer rely solely on Washington for its defense.
