Prime Minister Keir Starmer has sought to underline parliamentary oversight in foreign military decisions, confirming that any deployment of British troops to Ukraine would require a vote in the House of Commons and would only follow a negotiated ceasefire with Russia.

Speaking amid growing discussions among European allies, Starmer emphasised that a British contingent would be carefully calibrated to military assessments and would serve to uphold a peace agreement rather than engage in active combat. 

His remarks came after Emmanuel Macron signalled France’s willingness to send thousands of troops to help stabilise post-ceasefire arrangements.

The UK prime minister’s position forms part of wider diplomatic coordination, including a trilateral memorandum signed in Paris with France and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 

The declaration drew strong criticism from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch. 

While the United States is not formally part of the emerging “coalition of the willing”, Starmer stressed that London would not act independently of Washington, noting recent talks with US President Donald Trump. 

The debate now centres on how European-led guarantees can align with American security commitments to deter any future Russian aggression.

Photo: X/Basilthegreat

Tomasz Modrzejewski