Keir Starmer said the UK and France would establish military hubs on Ukrainian soil and build protected facilities for weapons and military equipment to help Kyiv defend itself

British and French troops will be deployed to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal to deter Russia from future attacks.

Tonight, Keir Starmer said the UK and France would establish military hubs on Ukrainian soil and build protected facilities for weapons and military equipment to help Kyiv defend itself. The PM, French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian leader Volodymr Zelensky signed a joint declaration in Paris to allow British and French boots on the ground after a ceasefire.

In a significant step forward, Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff said the US President has agreed to get behind the security guarantees – and was prepared to deter Russian attacks and even defend Ukraine if peace is breached.

A blueprint unveiled tonight for plans to guarantee peace, includes a multinational force for Ukraine led by European countries. Non-European countries could also be involved, with proposed support for the US. The declaration also includes participation in a US-led ceasefire monitoring, long-term support for the Ukrainian army and support for Kyiv to restore peace in any future Russian attack.

Mr Starmer said: “It’s important we’re starting the year like this – European and American allies, side by side with President Zelensky, standing for peace. And we are closer to that goal than ever. But of course, the hardest yards are still ahead.”

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, France’s President Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer at a meeting at the Elysee Palace ( 

Image:

POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

He said work to create a peace that can last was more advanced than ever – but cautioned that a deal was only possible if Vladimir Putin ends his warmongering. The PM said: “For all Russia’s words, Putin is not showing that he is ready for peace. Over the last few weeks, we have seen the opposite: Further horrific strikes on Ukraine killing and wounding civilians and cutting off power from millions of people in the dead of winter.

“His forces hit a hospital in Kyiv just yesterday. And he has tried to distract from peace efforts with unfounded claims of attacks on his residence. Now this only hardens our resolve. ”

The announcement followed a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing countries in Paris, hosted by President Macron. US envoys Mr Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, met with President Macron at the Elysee Palace for talks ahead of the gathering.

It is a major development for Kyiv and its allies after struggles to secure concrete support from Donald Trump on security guarantees. There have been questions over the US’s commitment to Ukraine after Mr Trump’s military action in Venezuela and the seizure of President Nicolás Maduro to face drugs and weapons charges in New York.

But Mr Witkoff said: “‘The President strongly stands behind security protocols. Those security protocols are meant to a) deter any attacks in Ukraine and b) if there are any attacks they are meant to defend. And they will do both.

“They are as strong as anyone has ever seen. The President does not back down from his commitments. He is strong for the country of Ukraine and for a peace deal. And we will be there for the Ukrainians in helping them to get to that final peace.”

Mr Kushner said the US president sought “a deal where both sides look to de-escalate” and added: “You create a robust deterrence, you know, peace through strength, where it’s unlikely that somebody will ever go and start this again.”

He added: “This is a really important building block to towards an eventual peace deal and I think that it’s a big, big milestone that’s reached today between the Europeans, with coalition of the willing.”