British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged the United States to provide a security “backstop” to any future European peacekeepers in Ukraine, saying it is essential for securing a lasting peace rather than just a temporary ceasefire.
In Washington, Starmer emphasized that without such guarantees, Ukraine cannot have lasting peace and will remain vulnerable to Russian aggression. However, he remained unclear about what the backstop might look like.
The issue of providing security guarantees for Ukraine has been a point of contention between Europe and Russia, with some nations, including France, willing to deploy troops but others, such as Poland, ruling it out.
Starmer’s push for the US to provide a backstop is part of a broader effort by Britain and other European countries to demonstrate unity in their support for Ukraine amid differences on troop deployment.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated that Russia will not consider any options for European peacekeepers being sent to Ukraine, further complicating efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
The US, led by President Donald Trump, has been at odds with Europe over its approach to Russia’s war in Ukraine, and Starmer faces challenges in securing support for his position on this issue.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/uks-starmer-says-only-us-backstop-can-secure-lasting-ukraine-peace-2025-02-26