UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Keir Starmer has not ruled out a parliamentary vote on sending UK troops for Ukraine peacekeeping, as he joins European leaders in Paris to attend crisis talks.
As reported by The Guardian, Keir Starmer has left the door open for a parliamentary vote on deploying British armed forces to Ukraine post-ceasefire, as Labour and Lib Dem figures push for a vote.
How is Keir Starmer preparing for UK troops’ role in Ukraine?
Number 10 indicated on Monday that a US-backed guarantee would be required for Britain to deploy ground troops, describing it as an “integral” element of any ceasefire agreement with Russia.
The Labour leader on Sunday night expressed his willingness to send the British army “into harm’s way” to secure a peace deal in Ukraine that would end the war initiated by Russia.
Sir Keir joined emergency discussions with European leaders in Paris on Monday, focused on developing a strategy in response to Donald Trump’s call for an agreement with Russia and his concerns regarding the US defence commitment in Europe.
What did Ed Davey say about UK troops in the Ukraine peace deal?
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey expressed support for deploying UK troops to protect a ceasefire but stressed that parliament should be consulted before proceeding.
Mr Davey stated,
“The PM is absolutely right when it comes to the deployment of British troops in Ukraine to uphold any peace deal and deter Putin,”
adding,
“We’ve been very clear that the UK now needs to lead in Europe. That means ensuring that President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy isn’t bullied into accepting a deal which effectively hands victory to Russia.”
The Liberal Democrat party representative confirmed that the party would back the deployment, but insisted parliament must be given the chance to voice its opinion.
How did Labour MP Diane Abbott respond to the troop deployment proposal?
Diane Abbott, the Labour MP, expressed concerns about the suggestion of deploying British forces to maintain peace.
She posted on X, stating, “If it is a durable, lasting peace then there will be no need for British troops on the ground. If not, and it could put this country at risk and troops in harm’s way – then parliament should vote on it first.”
If it is a durable, lasting peace then there will be no need for British troops on ground.
— Diane Abbott (@HackneyAbbott) February 17, 2025
If not, and it could put this country at risk and troops in harm's way – then parliament should vote on it first.
Starmer ready to put British troops on the groundhttps://t.co/qpwDsG4hi3
What did Starmer’s spokesperson say about a parliamentary vote on UK troops?
The official spokesperson for Keir Starmer clarifies that there has been no change in the stance, adding that calling for a vote too soon would be “getting ahead of ourselves.”
He stated that
“cross-party support for the UK’s backing of Ukraine has been consistent, but decisions on security guarantees will not be rushed, with parliament to be updated and consulted as needed.”
Number 10 refrained from confirming a parliament vote on troop deployment, claiming the decision was too early, even though Mr Starmer’s previous calls for military action required Commons approval.
Downing Street also revealed that Keir Starmer would meet Donald Trump in Washington next week with a focus on strengthening ties on trade, investment, and security.
How does Keir Starmer plan to bridge Europe-US on Ukraine peace?
Sir Starmer aims to serve as a mediator between Europe and the US, pressing Donald Trump to include Ukraine in peace negotiations with Putin over the ongoing conflict.
Before speaking at the Paris Summit, the prime minister emphasized that Britain faces a significant national security challenge and urged European allies to take a leading role in securing peace and strengthening defence capabilities for Ukraine’s future security.