Keir Starmer has not dominated out holding a parliamentary vote on committing UK troops to a peacekeeping function in Ukraine within the occasion of a ceasefire, after calls from some inside Labour and the Lib Dems.
Downing Road hinted {that a} US-backed assure could be wanted to ensure that the UK to ship floor troops, saying it was an “essential” a part of any ceasefire cope with Russia.
Starmer confirmed for the primary time on Sunday night time he was ready to place British troops “in harm’s way” to be able to defend a peace deal in Ukraine that ended the battle launched by Russia.
The prime minister joined emergency talks with European leaders in Paris on Monday, the place leaders aimed to plot a technique in response to Donald Trump’s push for a cope with the Russian president and his warnings that the US would cut back its defence commitments in Europe.
On Monday the Liberal Democrat chief, Ed Davey, stated his social gathering backed the UK sending troops to guard a ceasefire deal – however parliament have to be consulted.
“The PM is absolutely right when it comes to the deployment of British troops in Ukraine to uphold any peace deal and deter Putin,” Davey stated.
“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.”
A Lib Dem spokesperson stated that the social gathering would again the deployment, however parliament “should have the opportunity to have its say”.
The Labour MP Diane Abbott stated she was involved concerning the proposal to make use of British troops to maintain the peace. She posted on X: “If it is a durable, lasting peace then there will be no need for British troops on ground. If not, and it could put this country at risk and troops in harm’s way – then parliament should vote on it first.”
The Conservatives haven’t any plans to push for any Commons vote on troop deployment. The social gathering’s chief, Kemi Badenoch, who was talking at a convention on Monday morning about threats to western civilisation, didn’t point out Ukraine in her deal with.
No 10 didn’t explicitly decide to permitting parliament to vote on any potential deployment, saying it was too early within the course of. Throughout Starmer’s time in opposition he known as for a regulation that navy motion wanted consent from the Commons.
Starmer’s spokesperson stated there was no change to that place however committing to a vote could be “getting ahead of ourselves”. He stated: “There has more broadly been cross-party support for the UK’s backing of Ukraine since the conflict first began and we’ve always been very clear that we are going to play our role in future security guarantees but we’re not going to get ahead of decisions on that and obviously parliament will continue to be updated and consulted as appropriate.”
No 10 additionally confirmed on Monday that Starmer would meet Trump in Washington subsequent week, saying he would search to “deepen the special relationship across trade and investment, security”.
The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, is main a delegation to Saudi Arabia for talks with Russian officers on the define of a ceasefire settlement. Ukraine has not been invited to the talks and Zelenskyy stated Kyiv wouldn’t settle for the end result if it was not concerned.
Talking earlier than the Paris summit, Starmer stated the UK was going through “a generational challenge when it comes to national security”.
He stated it was vital to have “realistic and credible answers” for methods to make any peace settlement final. “I think that we need to do more. We need to step up in terms of our collective response in Europe, and by that I mean capability. By that, I mean playing our full part when it comes to the defence of the sovereignty of Ukraine if there’s a peace agreement, and, of course, when it comes to funding and training.
“So, on all those fronts, I want the UK and all European allies to step up, and for the UK to play a leading part in that.”
After the summit, a No 10 supply stated Starmer was clear that any determination to commit troops to Ukraine was solely conditional on robust safety ensures from the US.
Starmer intends to start out the dialog about what that may appear like when he meets Trump in Washington subsequent week. “It’s not realistic Europe can do it on its own. But the nature of that backstop obviously has a variety of options,” the supply stated.
