Keir Starmer has called on Donald Trump to offer a US “backstop” for a European peacekeeping contingent in Ukraine, asserting that this is the only method to dissuade Russia from further aggression against the nation.
The UK Prime Minister’s request to Trump followed an urgent summit in Paris, where European leaders voiced strong support for significantly increasing defense budgets.
Certain leaders at the summit, particularly German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is one week away from an election, sought to avoid discussions about a European force aimed at upholding a ceasefire in Ukraine.
However, Starmer, after affirming his commitment on Sunday to the notion of deploying British troops, pressed on with the topic, emphasizing that such a force would only be viable with American support.
After the three-hour summit, he remarked: “Europe must fulfill its responsibilities, and I’m open to the idea of placing British forces on the ground alongside allies, if a sustainable peace agreement is reached, but a US backstop is essential, as a US security promise is the sole effective means to deter future Russian attacks on Ukraine.”
Starmer stated that the US is not on the verge of exiting NATO, yet noted that the topic of sharing responsibilities within the alliance has become urgent. “In this moment, we must recognize the new era we are in and not cling to the comforts of the past, but instead take charge of our security and that of our continent,” he stated.
These comments serve as a plea for Trump to acknowledge that he cannot disengage America from Ukraine without jeopardizing European security. The emergency summit was called by Emmanuel Macron with minimal notice amid escalating apprehension in European capitals about Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin negotiating the continent’s security without European input.
UK defense officials have indicated that even if a European force of 30,000 troops is deployed in a supportive role away from the frontlines, it will still require protections, such as air support and logistics, that only NATO—specifically the US—can supply.
Scholz concurred with Starmer that such a contingent would be unimaginable without US support but criticized discussions about troop deployments as “entirely premature and completely inappropriate at this time.” He expressed some irritation towards the debate, stating, “We are not yet at peace but are in the midst of a war aggressively pursued by Russia, without restraint.”
While the summit was not expected to yield decisions, there was significant agreement on the need to bolster defense budgets.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk declared: “We will not be able to effectively assist Ukraine if we do not urgently take tangible steps concerning our own defense capabilities. If Europe, as is now the case, cannot counter Russia’s military power, we must urgently rectify this.”
Scholz also expressed a desire to explore methods for enabling Europe to exempt defense spending increases from fiscal debt regulations. “It is clear that our ongoing and necessary support for Ukraine can only proceed if we can independently finance it,” he noted, adding that the German debt constraint should not limit defense spending beyond 2%, and that Germany could allocate an extra €30 billion annually.
Criticizing Trump’s hasty approach to initiating peace talks with Russia, he remarked that it was “highly inappropriate” to debate the potential outcomes of discussions that have not yet commenced, especially as they are occurring without Ukraine’s involvement. He emphasized, “It is abundantly clear: we must continue to support Ukraine—and it must and can count on us.”
Mette Frederiksen, the Prime Minister of Denmark, stated that all European nations should amplify their support for Ukraine and increase domestic defense spending to safeguard against Moscow’s threats. “Russia is unfortunately posing a threat to all of Europe now,” he asserted.
There is growing anxiety among European leaders that Trump is hastily pushing for an immediate ceasefire with Russia, one that Ukraine and Europe will only be able to influence marginally.
Reflecting these worries, Tusk mentioned: “Everyone present at this meeting understands that transatlantic relations, the NATO alliance, and our friendship with the United States have reached a new phase. We all perceive this.”
At the same time, senior diplomats from Russia and the US are scheduled to meet in Riyadh on Wednesday to follow up on last week’s surprise call initiated by Trump to Putin.
Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, General Keith Kellogg, underlined Trump’s desire for a swift agreement: “We are now in ‘Trump time’—which means I receive a task today and by tomorrow noon, he expects to know why it hasn’t been accomplished yet.”
Scholz asserted that there must be “no division of security and responsibility between Europe and the USA,” effectively excluding German participation in any reassurance force under conditions of a ceasefire if the US does not agree to partake militarily in the peacekeeping efforts.
Thus far, the US has declined to commit to assisting a potential European military presence.
“NATO is founded on the principle that we always act collectively and share our risks, thereby ensuring our security. This must not be called into question,” Scholz stated.
Poland has consistently maintained it will not send troops to Ukraine, emphasizing its role in defending Central Europe. Italy and Spain have also expressed opposition to deploying troops without a clearer understanding of the US’s role.
Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, who arrived nearly an hour late for the summit, commented that “the option involving the deployment of European soldiers to Ukraine seems to me the most complex and perhaps the least effective.”
“Alternative paths should be explored that also engage the US, as European and American security is founded in the Euro-Atlantic context,” she stated.
France’s objectives in calling this meeting had included showcasing a united front of European solidarity with Ukraine and devising a strategy to persuade Trump that Europe, given its security interests and resources in the Ukraine talks, has an undeniable right to participate.
Macron, a proponent of a strengthened European security framework, also hoped the summit would initiate discussions on the contributions larger European powers could muster for a reassurance force.
With trust dwindling between Washington and Europe, there is growing apprehension among European diplomats that Trump might opt, as a goodwill signal, to unilaterally lift critical sanctions on Russia, easing the mounting pressure on its economy.
Moscow is advocating for the removal of sanctions as part of a package aimed at restoring diplomatic relations with the US. Russia is also hoping the US will indicate a withdrawal of American forces from the continent.
US officials have publicly and privately offered varying perspectives on components of the potential agreement, including how Ukraine will be consulted, leading many European diplomats to believe that the US lacks a cohesive plan at this stage.
The US has sent mixed signals regarding the involvement of Ukraine and Europe in the negotiations, with Michael Kellogg stating that it is “not reasonable to have everyone present at the table for a Ukraine peace deal.”
In an effort to justify Trump’s exclusion of Europe from the discussions, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov commented: “I do not see what Europe could contribute at the negotiating table. Given the stance of European countries towards the war, I have doubts about the value of their participation if invited. If Europe wishes to continue the conflict in Ukraine, why should it be included in the negotiations?”
