A “security guarantee” from the United States is the only way to achieve lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia – and to stop the Kremlin from further aggression, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday.
Starmer made the plea as he and other European leaders emerged from an emergency summit in Paris in response to US officials’ Tuesday meeting with Russian diplomats in Saudi Arabia about potential steps to end the war — without reps from Ukraine or other European nations being on hand.
“Europe must play its role, and I’m prepared to consider committing British forces on the ground alongside others, if there is a lasting peace agreement,” Starmer told reporters.
“But there must be a US backstop, because a US security guarantee is the only way to effectively deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again.”
“We have to recognize the new era we’re in, not cling hopelessly to the comforts of the past,” Starmer added, according to Euro News.
“It’s time for us to take responsibility for our security, for our continent.”
President Trump’s approach to European diplomacy has left NATO allies and Ukrainian officials alike uneasy as the three-year anniversary of the Kremlin incursion approaches.
The commander in chief is sending Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz and special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to Saudi Arabia to meet the Russian delegation, which will be led by Rubio’s opposite number, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Gen. Keith Kellogg, the White House’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia — who will not take part in Saudi meetings — made clear Monday European nations did not need to be involved at this stage.
“All their concerns will be known, and addressed as well,” Kellogg told reporters in Brussels, where he spoke with NATO and European Union officials ahead of a planned meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“I don’t think it’s reasonable and feasible to have everybody sitting at the table,” Kellogg added.
“We know how that can turn out and that has been our point, is keeping it clean and fast as we can.”
Trump vowed Sunday that Ukraine would be included in subsequent negotiations, without providing more details. Zelensky has said his country won’t accept a deal agreed without its involvement.
Monday’s meeting at the Elysee Palace featured the heads of government of the UK, Germany, France, Poland, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Demark and the European Union, as well as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
A visibly annoyed German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said after the meeting it was too early to talk about sending peacekeeping troops into Ukraine, which both Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have proposed.
But Scholz insisted it was “completely premature and completely the wrong time to have this discussion now.”
“I want to say that quite frankly, people are talking over Ukraine’s head, about the outcome of peace talks that have not taken place and to which Ukraine has not said yes,” he added.
“This is highly inappropriate, to put it bluntly and honestly. We don’t even know what the outcome will be.”
Following the meeting, Zelensky announced that he had spoken with Macron, who held a 30-minute phone call with Trump prior to the summit.
“We share a common vision: security guarantees must be robust and reliable,” the Ukrainian president said. “Any other decision without such guarantees—such as a fragile ceasefire—would only serve as another deception by Russia and a prelude to a new Russian war against Ukraine or other European nations.
“Emmanuel also briefed me on his talks with other leaders, not just European ones,” added Zelensky, an apparent reference to Trump. “We agreed to stay in constant contact as major decisions are being made. Ensuring a robust and lasting peace is a must. And that can only be achieved through strong security guarantees.”
With Post wires
