Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has declared that Britain will never falter in its support for Ukraine during a major Commons statement updating MPs on international diplomatic efforts.
Firm Commitment to Ukrainian Sovereignty
Addressing Parliament after last week's G20 summit, the Prime Minister reinforced his dedication to achieving a just and lasting peace for Ukraine while insisting that Kyiv's sovereignty must be completely preserved. He delivered a stark condemnation of Russian aggression, stating there is only one nation that deploys a constant barrage aimed at murdering innocent civilians.
Sir Keir warned MPs about the tough road ahead for Ukraine but emphasised that the United Kingdom remains more committed than ever to supporting the Eastern European nation against Russian invasion. He told the Commons: This country will never falter in our support for the Ukrainian people. We will maintain a unity of purpose with our allies, and we will focus on delivering the calm, serious leadership that is needed to advance a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.
Direct Dialogue and Coalition Coordination
Earlier on Tuesday, the Prime Minister spoke directly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, assuring him that Britain's support remains unwavering as ceasefire discussions continue. Mr Zelensky described their conversation as good and very productive, signalling positive diplomatic engagement between the two leaders.
Later that same day, Sir Keir was scheduled to convene a meeting of the 36 nations comprising the coalition of the willing to discuss both the ongoing peace process and plans for deploying a peacekeeping force to Ukraine should a ceasefire be established. Downing Street confirmed that planning for such a force has continued consistently since the UK and France committed to creating a multinational presence during the summer.
UK Prepared for Ground Deployment
When questioned about Britain's willingness to deploy troops, the Prime Minister's official spokesman provided a clear response: If you're asking me directly, is the UK still willing to put boots on the ground in the event of hostilities ceasing, the answer is yes. This represents a significant commitment to Ukraine's long-term security and stability.
These high-level discussions follow weekend talks between American and Ukrainian representatives in Geneva concerning a 28-point peace plan presented by Donald Trump's administration after their discussions with Russia. The proposed plan has faced resistance from Ukraine and its European allies due to what they perceive as substantial concessions to Moscow.
In his Commons address, Sir Keir revealed he had spoken with Mr Trump and welcomed the continued efforts of the United States to end the war and stop the killing. While acknowledging that the American plan contained points that were not acceptable, he noted it included some very important elements, particularly security guarantees from the United States and other international partners.
Meanwhile, in a parallel diplomatic development, US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll met with Russian officials for several hours in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday to discuss recent developments following the Geneva talks with Ukrainian representatives. President Zelensky is expected to travel to Washington before the end of November to complete final steps and make a deal with President Trump, according to senior Ukrainian official Rustem Umerov.
