Keir Starmer and European leaders have outlined six crucial commitments to offer assistance to Ukraine in the event of a peace agreement with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. The commitments include providing substantial support to Kyiv for strengthening its armed forces, which are urged to maintain a peacetime level of 800,000 troops. Keir Starmer’s visit to Berlin for discussions with Ukraine’s wartime leader Volodymyr Zelensky and European allies coincided with this announcement.
The Prime Minister had previously cautioned against a flawed peace deal for Kyiv, highlighting the risk of escalating conflicts, especially under pressure from Donald Trump to end the war. Emphasizing the importance of unwavering support for Ukraine, the Prime Minister stressed the necessity for the UK to remain vigilant against potential threats from Russia. During a session with the Commons Liaison Committee, he underscored the historical precedent of failed peace agreements in Europe leading to more severe conflicts.
In a joint statement released by the Prime Minister and nearly a dozen allies, including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, significant progress towards securing peace in the ongoing conflict was acknowledged. The statement affirmed the commitment to collaborate on providing robust security guarantees and economic recovery support for Ukraine. The leaders pledged sustained and substantial support to bolster Ukraine’s armed forces as a deterrent against conflict and to safeguard the nation’s territory.
Furthermore, the leaders reiterated their intention to establish a “Coalition of the Willing” backed by the US to ensure the security of Ukraine’s airspace and waters. While expressing strong support for Ukraine’s potential accession to the European Union, there was no mention of NATO membership in the statement.
The leaders also voiced their backing for President Zelenskyy and agreed to support his decisions on Ukrainian matters. They emphasized the importance of maintaining international borders without alteration through force, with territorial decisions left to the Ukrainian people once adequate security assurances are in place. The statement highlighted the need for resolving certain issues in the final negotiation stages and affirmed their readiness to assist President Zelenskyy in consulting his people as required.
