LONDON, UK (Kaab TV) – The United Kingdom and European Union leaders have signaled their readiness to deploy troops and fighter jets to Ukraine if a ceasefire is reached, despite ongoing uncertainty about the possibility of such an agreement.
Speaking at a summit of European and world leaders in London on Sunday, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer declared, “We are at a crossroads in history,” as he and other European leaders pledged to ramp up defense spending.
The summit, attended by leaders from the EU, Canada, and Turkey, took on added urgency following a contentious meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House.
The UK, France, and other nations have committed to backing Ukraine against Russia’s invasion should a ceasefire be declared.
However, Starmer emphasized that any military intervention under the “coalition of the willing” plan must have U.S. support.
He described Trump’s America as a “reliable ally” and stated that a “number of countries” had agreed to commit troops to a potential peacekeeping force.
However, he left it to individual nations to formally announce their participation.
NATO Troops Already Positioned Near Ukraine Border
Two weeks ago, 2,500 UK troops from the Army’s high-readiness force, the First Division, took part in a major NATO exercise in Romania, just 25 kilometers (16 miles) from the Ukrainian border.
Brigadier Andy Watson, who leads the British contingent in the NATO exercise, affirmed that his brigade is “absolutely ready” should orders come for deployment to Ukraine.
“The UK is prepared to back this with boots on the ground and planes in the air, together with others,” Watson told BBC. “Europe must do the heavy lifting.”
His statement suggests that EU member states could soon be sending their own troops to Ukraine as part of a broader strategy to counter Russian aggression.
Tensions between the U.S. and Ukraine escalated after President Trump publicly accused Zelenskyy of “disrespecting” U.S. support and “gambling with World War Three.”
The diplomatic fallout has fueled concerns among Western allies that the U.S. may not remain a steadfast military supporter of Ukraine.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas reacted strongly, stating on social media: “Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It’s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge.”
In response, Prime Minister Starmer has sought to position himself as a mediator between the U.S. and Europe, particularly following the White House confrontation.
He confirmed that the UK, France, and Ukraine would work on a peace plan to be presented to the U.S., ensuring the White House remains part of the negotiations.
“The discussions we’ve had today, particularly the coalition of the willing, is on the basis that this is a plan that we will work with the U.S. and that it will have U.S. backing,” Starmer stated.
“That is the purpose of the plan, and that is why I spoke to President Trump last night before we developed the work on this plan.”
As European leaders step up their commitments to Ukraine’s defense, all eyes remain on Washington and whether the U.S. will stand by its allies in the face of escalating Russian threats.