Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that MPs will be given a debate and vote before any British troops are deployed on peacekeeping duties in Ukraine. Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Starmer confirmed that the UK and France are prepared to send troops as part of a security guarantee, should a peace deal be reached.
Starmer said the decision followed discussions at a summit in Paris, where the UK, France, and Ukraine agreed a declaration of intent on force deployment. He stressed that any deployment would only occur after a ceasefire, with troops conducting deterrent operations and protecting military hubs.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch pressed Starmer on why he did not make a full parliamentary statement immediately, noting that no previous prime minister had failed to do so after committing to troop deployment. Starmer replied that a statement was not needed as the declaration sits under existing military plans, and a full debate and vote would happen before any deployment.
Starmer added that the number of troops would be determined by military plans and shared with the House before deployment. He also committed to a debate and vote if a legal instrument for deployment was required, which he described as proper procedure.
