Starmer urged to ramp up defence spending as he offers ‘boots on the ground’ in Ukraine_L
The Prime Minister said he had not taken the decision to consider putting British personnel “in harm’s way” lightly.
A retired British Army colonel says the UK must “take up the gauntlet” after Sir Keir Starmer said he is willing to put British troops in Ukraine to enforce a peace deal.
The Prime Minister said he had not decided to consider putting British personnel “in harm’s way” lightly.
Ukraine expert and former commander of Royal Tank Regiment Hamish de Bretton-Gordon told the Daily Express the UK needs to take on the responsibility with Donald Trump “appearing to throw us under a Russian bus”.
He warned this would require greater defence spending beyond the Government’s new target of 2.5% of GDP.
Reports suggest the PM has resisted calls from military chiefs to increase spending past 2.5%. The UK currently spends around 2.3%.
Mr de Bretton-Gordon said: “I applaud his stance [to put UK troops in Ukraine], but he’s going to have to spend a lot more than 2.3% to achieve this. If you neglect the Army, don’t expect it to be at your beck and call!
“We must take up the gauntlet with Trump appearing to throw us under a Russian bus – but a big injection of cash required now and probably 3% for the future – he is right: Ukraine needs a path to NATO with or without the US.”
In an article for The Telegraph, Sir Keir announced that it is the first time he has confirmed that he is considering deploying British peacekeepers to Ukraine.
It is expected to pressure European leaders to do the same before an emergency meeting called by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
Mr Macron has previously proposed a Europe-led peacekeeping force in Ukraine in the event of a peace deal with Russia.
The US has ruled out putting American troops on Ukrainian soil.
The PM wrote in the Telegraph: “The UK is ready to play a leading role in accelerating work on security guarantees for Ukraine. This includes further support for Ukraine‘s military – where the UK has already committed £3 billion a year until at least 2030.
“But it also means being ready and willing to contribute to security guarantees to Ukraine by putting our own troops on the ground if necessary. I do not say that lightly. I feel very deeply the responsibility that comes with potentially putting British servicemen and women in harm’s way.
“But any role in helping to guarantee Ukraine‘s security is helping to guarantee the security of our continent and the security of this country. The end of this war, when it comes, cannot merely become a temporary pause before Putin attacks again.”
Sir Keir also doubled down on calls for Ukraine to be part of peace talks, which are being brokered by the US.
President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine won’t accept any pact made without Kyiv’s involvement.
US and Russia are meeting in Saudi Arabia to discuss a deal.
Sir Keir said the “crucial days ahead will determine the future security of our continent”.
He added: “As I will say in Paris, peace comes through strength. But the reverse is also true. Weakness leads to war.
“This is the moment for us all to step up – and the UK will do so because it is the right thing to do for the values and freedoms we hold dear and because it is fundamental to our own national security.”
What the peacekeeping force would look like remains unclear, but The Telegraph reports one proposal to be discussed is for European soldiers to be deployed away from the front line, which would be detailed in a peace deal.
As many as 100,000 troops could be needed for the duties. The British Army is at its smallest since the Napoleonic Wars, with around 73,000 troops.
Former Conservative Defence Secretary and Army officer Sir Ben Wallace agreed the Government must spend significantly more to allow sending British troops to Ukraine, warning it could otherwise put lives at risk.
He wrote on X: “The PM must recognise that if we are to keep the NATO alliance intact and retain the US in it, we must spend at least 3% of GDP by 2030. It is vital for our OWN security. 2.5% by 26/27 is a waypoint to get there.
“The extra spending is also vital to ensure any forces we may or may not send to Ukraine are properly protected and enabled. Not to do so is to send another hollow force and put British lives unnecessarily at risk. Snatch Landrover’s in Afghan come to mind.”
