Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has warned that Vladimir Putin will face “severe consequences” if he breaches any peace agreement with Ukraine. The warning came after a meeting with officials from 31 countries at the Northwood military base in London, where western military planners began drafting security arrangements to enforce a potential deal.
Starmer stated that Putin cannot be allowed to dictate Ukraine's defence capability, rejecting the Russian president’s demand for demilitarisation. However, he stopped short of reiterating a commitment to deploy British ground troops, instead outlining that allied forces would support Ukrainian troops by air, sea, and land without replacing them.
The prime minister emphasised that any security plan would require a US component to ensure credibility. “The purpose of this plan is to ensure that we maintain the peace – as it is in Estonia and all the other countries in which we’re deployed,” he said. Starmer noted that Ukrainian forces are among the strongest in Europe due to their combat experience.
The talks took place as negotiations continue between the US, Ukraine, and Russia, with further discussions expected in Saudi Arabia. A 30-day pause in attacks on energy infrastructure has been agreed, following a phone call between Putin and President Donald Trump. Starmer acknowledged that a ceasefire or full deal may be reached, and planning must account for both scenarios.
