UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin would violate any peace deal with Ukraine if it is not supported by robust security measures. Speaking after attending a high-level military meeting in London, Starmer emphasized the necessity of firm security arrangements to ensure any agreement’s longevity.
The closed-door meeting at the Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood brought together military leaders from over 20 nations to discuss proposals for securing Ukraine’s future. The UK is spearheading discussions on deploying troops to guarantee Ukraine’s security as part of a potential peace agreement.
Starmer asserted that without concrete military planning, Putin would inevitably breach any deal, citing previous instances where Russia had reneged on agreements. He stressed that security measures would demonstrate to Moscow that violations would carry “severe consequences.”
“We know one thing for certain,” Starmer said, “a deal without anything behind it is something that Putin will breach. We know that because it happened before. I’m absolutely clear in my mind it will happen again.”
While ruling out the redeployment of UK troops from other commitments, such as those in Estonia, the prime minister underscored the need for allied nations to transition from political discourse to strategic military preparations. He noted that this shift must take place before a peace agreement is finalized.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey was also present at the military discussions, which form part of what Starmer has termed the “coalition of the willing.” Downing Street confirmed that military leaders were engaged in detailed planning regarding any potential deployment, with a focus on ensuring Ukraine’s security.
According to defense sources, any international force deployed to Ukraine should be referred to as a “reassurance force” rather than a “peacekeeping force.” Discussions reportedly included the potential deployment of British Typhoon jets to provide air support for Ukrainian troops.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Russia to cease making excessive demands that prolong the war. The US continues its efforts to broker a ceasefire, with US-Russia and Ukraine-US talks scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia next week. However, despite both sides agreeing to a ceasefire in principle, disagreements over conditions have prevented progress.
