Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged that Members of Parliament will be granted a decisive vote before any British ground forces are deployed to Ukraine. The commitment was made during a tense Prime Minister's Questions session, following the signing of a significant international agreement in Paris.
PMQs Clash Over Deployment Details
During the weekly parliamentary clash, Shadow Minister Kemi Badenoch directly challenged Sir Keir, demanding specifics on the number of UK military personnel that could be sent to underpin a potential peace agreement. The Prime Minister declined to provide further operational details, stating that the matter would be put to the House of Commons if a deployment decision is reached. 'If there is a decision to deploy then I would put that matter to this House,' Sir Keir told MPs.
The 'Paris Declaration' and Coalition of the Willing
The pledge follows high-stakes talks in the French capital yesterday, where Sir Keir, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, signed a landmark document known as the 'Paris Declaration'. This agreement commits the UK in principle to the future deployment of forces. The discussions involved the so-called 'Coalition of the Willing', a group of Western allies.
'Yesterday, I stood side by side with our European and American allies and President Zelensky at the Coalition of the Willing meeting in Paris,' Sir Keir reported to the Commons. 'We made real progress on security guarantees, which are vital for securing a just and lasting peace.'
Structure and Purpose of the Proposed Force
The signed declaration outlines a plan for Britain and France to establish military hubs across Ukraine should a peace deal with Russia be secured. This proposed 'Multinational Force for Ukraine' is intended to act as a reassurance force, stabilising the region after nearly four years of brutal conflict.
Notably, the Paris talks were attended by key figures from Donald Trump's circle, including his peace envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Mr Kushner indicated that the United States, under a potential future Trump administration, is prepared to offer 'real backstops' as security guarantees for the peacekeeping mission.
The Path Ahead and Putin's Stance
At a subsequent press conference in Paris, Sir Keir struck a cautiously optimistic yet sober note. He stated that Ukraine and its allies were 'closer' to peace 'than ever', but he immediately cautioned that 'the hardest yards are still ahead'. The Prime Minister pointedly added that Russian President Vladimir Putin was 'not showing that he's ready for peace', underscoring the significant challenges that remain.
The UK government has promised to provide a detailed statement on the plans at the earliest opportunity and to keep Parliament updated as the volatile situation develops.
