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War in Ukraine

UK Is Leading Europe’s Security Efforts, Ready to Send Troops in Ukraine

UK Is Leading Europe’s Security Efforts, Ready to Send Troops in Ukraine

UK’s Prime Minister Kier Starmer is leading the way for a 2025 European-led security plan in response to Trump's recent comments and closed-door discussions with Russia. Throughout Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the UK has been at the forefront of lifting restrictions and supplying Ukraine with the tools it needs, to fight Russian aggression.

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Jess Daly
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Starmer said that he is "ready and willing" to put UK troops on the ground to secure lasting peace in Ukraine. 

“The end of this war, when it comes, cannot merely become a temporary pause before Putin attacks again,” Starmer said, emphasizing the need to “deter Putin from further aggression in the future.”

The UK and Europe are “facing a once-in-a-generation moment for the collective security of our continent” Starmer said, adding that the UK is ready to take on a leading role in accelerating security guarantees for Ukraine. These statements come amid growing concern that US President Donald Trump and his administration are pushing to end the war with Russia without Europe and Ukraine’s involvement. European Allies have stood firm behind Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy and in their support for Ukraine. 

“For almost three years (Zelenskyy) has done something that I don't think anyone else could do: stood up not only for his own country and put his own life at risk, but every single day also fought for Europe's peace,” said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

Starmer was the first European Ally to offer his troops to Ukraine. Europe has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine in Russia’s war of aggression, and in several cases, the UK was the first in line to offer military support to Ukraine, ultimately leading the path for other leaders to follow suit. 

On January 16, Starmer met Zelenskyy to sign a landmark 100-year comprehensive partnership agreement. The century-long partnership carries symbolic weight and highlights the UK’s commitment to long-term support for Ukraine, both independently and as a leader in Europe’s unified response to Russian aggression.

The UK influenced European troops on the ground in Ukraine 

Europe held a recent emergency summit in Élysée Palace in Paris to “step up” defense. Starmer and France’s President Macron co-led the summit. 

It seems that Starmer's influence has probed other European partners to potentially deploy their troops to Ukraine. Unnamed Western officials estimated that there could be under 30,000 UK and European personnel deployed, but declined to confirm exact numbers, Sky News reported. 

France has indicated that it could commit up to 10,000 troops, while other European allies are still assessing their capabilities. These troops would not be operating as “peacekeepers” but as a “post-war reasurrance force” for the public and to “help encourage the return of millions of Ukrainians who fled the country because of Russia's war,” according to reports. Western officials told reporters that the troops could be deployed following any ceasefire deal with Russia to help secure the peace in Ukrainian cities, ports, and nuclear power plants.

Discussions are still ongoing. European leaders are working to define their role in Ukraine’s future security, and the prospect of a European-led force in Ukraine is becoming a key topic.

The UK probes main battle tank deployment

The UK was the first country to pledge modern battle tanks for Ukraine to allow “Ukraine to press their advantage, win this war and secure a lasting peace,” former UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak said. 

The UK delivered their Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine, as at that time, Ukraine only had Soviet-era tanks—the same tanks in Russia’s arsenal.

Their delivery was the nudge the German government needed to approve the supply of its Leopard 2 tanks, according to reports. Several thousand Leopards were in the hands of various armies across Europe, who were waiting for Germany to allow their shipment to Ukraine. Under German law, Berlin had to approve any country's re-exportation of the main battle tanks.

After the UK’s approval, Germany gave the go-ahead for European partners to ship their Leopard 2’s to Ukraine. The UK paved the way for an influx of main battle tanks, which have been successful in many head-to-head tank battles against Russian forces and their Soviet-era tanks.

The UK pushed the green light for long-range missile strikes in Russia

Starmer was the first to personally approve Ukraine's use of long-range missiles against Russian military assets on its soil. The UK was pushing for restrictions to be lifted on its jointly developed UK and French Storm Shadow missile, called SCALP in France.

A senior government source privately stated that UK PM Keir Starmer’s stance was clear—he supported allowing Ukraine to use the weapons as needed for its self-defense. 

This was a hot topic of debate for a long time. Western Allies were initially concerned that allowing Ukraine to strike Russia on their soil would escalate tensions and aggression. Starmer was publicly voicing his approval, while UK had been quietly urging the US on this matter for months.

We must ensure Ukraine has what it needs for as long as it needs to win this war. [But] I’m not going to go into operational matters, because there’s only one winner if I do that, and that is Putin.

Kier Starmer

UK Prime Minister

Ukraine had successfully used them already against military targets in Russian-occupied Crimea. A resupply of storm shadow missiles were delivered to Ukraine before London and Washington approved Ukraine’s use of long-range munitions against targets inside Russia, at the time, Ukrainians were hoping that this was pre-emptive for their delivery. 

Both the UK and France gave the green light, then finally Biden’s administration followed suit, the White House officially authorized the use of long-range weapons, and restrictions were lifted on November 19, 2024. The approval came in response to Russia deploying North Korean troops in its war on Ukraine, which the UK government viewed as an escalation.

Since then, Ukraine has deployed many successful strikes within Russia’s borders, eliminating air bases, ammunition depots, oil refineries, and more in a bid to halt Russia’s war on Ukraine at its source.

The German government has still not authorized the use of their TAURUS missiles on Russian territory, a subject currently fiercely debated in the German government due to up-and-coming snap elections.

The Germans know it could be a game-changer. They have the TAURUS in storage, they never use them in combat, and they have them in huge volumes. What you need in any war, is deep battle strikes, the TAURUS missile…could change the course of the deep battle in Ukraine and inside Russia as well.

Mark Arnold

Retired Brigadier General and former Green Beret

Starmer will travel to Washington next week for his first in-person meeting with Trump, where he will discuss a "US backstop" that he says, is necessary to deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again. It’s unclear what a “backstop” entails, but his allies suggest this could involve air support, logistics, and intelligence capabilities according to reports. 

In a phone call between Starmer and Zelenskyy on February 19, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the strong support from the UK and emphasized how its assistance is crucial for Ukraine. Ukrainians will never forget the respect shown by the British people toward Ukraine and its citizens, Zelenskyy noted, underscoring the importance of the UK’s participation in all defense initiatives aimed at protecting Europe.

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