UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his readiness to deploy troops to Ukraine "if necessary", just hours before European leaders convene in Paris on Monday to address Washington’s unexpected policy shift on the war.
Publish dateMonday 17 February 2025 - 11:20
Story Code : 307801
Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - Monitoring: Last week, US President Donald Trump bypassed Kiev and its European allies by engaging directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss potential negotiations to end the conflict. As Trump signals he could meet Putin "very soon", European leaders are rushing to Paris for high-level discussions on the continent’s security.
Calling the situation a "once-in-a-generation moment", Starmer affirmed his willingness to place "our own troops on the ground if necessary." Writing in The Daily Telegraph late Sunday, he emphasized that "any role in helping to guarantee Ukraine’s security is helping to guarantee the security of our continent, and the security of this country."
Trump has said that Putin genuinely seeks to end hostilities in Ukraine, while his administration has made it clear that Europe will no longer be its primary security focus. Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has suggested that Ukraine's NATO membership and the full restoration of its territory are unlikely.
Leaders from the UK, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark are expected to attend the Paris meeting, which takes place just ahead of the third anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine on February 24. Also in attendance will be European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
The French presidency stated that discussions would center on "the situation in Ukraine" and "security in Europe." An advisor to President Emmanuel Macron noted that given the recent acceleration of developments in Ukraine and shifting US rhetoric, European nations must enhance their collective security efforts "better and in a coherent way."
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has proposed US-Russia negotiations in Saudi Arabia—expected in the coming days—to discuss not only the Ukraine war but broader European security concerns. European leaders fear Putin may revive demands he made before the start of the war, including limits on NATO forces in Eastern Europe and reduced US military involvement on the continent./Al-Mayadeen News
Calling the situation a "once-in-a-generation moment", Starmer affirmed his willingness to place "our own troops on the ground if necessary." Writing in The Daily Telegraph late Sunday, he emphasized that "any role in helping to guarantee Ukraine’s security is helping to guarantee the security of our continent, and the security of this country."
Trump has said that Putin genuinely seeks to end hostilities in Ukraine, while his administration has made it clear that Europe will no longer be its primary security focus. Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has suggested that Ukraine's NATO membership and the full restoration of its territory are unlikely.
Leaders from the UK, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark are expected to attend the Paris meeting, which takes place just ahead of the third anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine on February 24. Also in attendance will be European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
The French presidency stated that discussions would center on "the situation in Ukraine" and "security in Europe." An advisor to President Emmanuel Macron noted that given the recent acceleration of developments in Ukraine and shifting US rhetoric, European nations must enhance their collective security efforts "better and in a coherent way."
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has proposed US-Russia negotiations in Saudi Arabia—expected in the coming days—to discuss not only the Ukraine war but broader European security concerns. European leaders fear Putin may revive demands he made before the start of the war, including limits on NATO forces in Eastern Europe and reduced US military involvement on the continent./Al-Mayadeen News
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