According to PM Keir Starmer, the UK is prepared to send troops and aircraft to Ukraine.
When questioned about potential US military support for a UK deployment to Ukraine as part of a possible peace agreement with Russia, President Donald Trump responded that British troops “can take care of themselves.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Trump at the White House on Thursday to discuss a plan for what he described as a “peace that is tough and fair.”
Starmer told reporters after the meeting, “I’m collaborating closely with other European leaders on this, and I want to be clear that the UK stands ready to commit ground forces and air power to support an agreement, working in conjunction with our allies, as that is the only path to lasting peace.”
However, Trump avoided directly answering if the US would provide support should such a deployment result in clashes with Russian forces, stating to journalists prior to the meeting that the British “don’t need much help.”
Trump elaborated, “They are very capable. The British have a history of being incredible soldiers and having an incredible military, and they are able to handle things themselves. It might sound like I’m dodging the question, but I’m not. If they require assistance, I will always support the British, but they are self-sufficient.”
Trump: “The British have been incredible soldiers, incredible military, and they can take care of themselves. But if they need help, I’ll always be with the British.”
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial)
Starmer then lauded the US-UK relationship as the world’s “greatest alliance for prosperity and security,” adding that “we’ve always provided mutual support when needed…”
Lavrov stated that the idea of deploying foreign troops to Ukraine is being promoted by “the Europeans, especially France and the UK,” with the intention of “escalating the conflict and preventing any de-escalation efforts.”
Moscow has consistently opposed the deployment of peacekeepers in Ukraine without UN authorization, warning that they would be considered legitimate targets. Lavrov asserted that discussions about a peacekeeping force in Ukraine are pointless and that the main focus should be on addressing the root causes of the conflict, including Ukraine’s potential NATO membership and the expansion of Western military infrastructure near Russia’s borders.