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KEIR Starmer‘s peace plan to deploy European troops in Ukraine has faced another blow as Moscow has shot it down.
Despite Trump’s reassurance that Putin “has no problem” with European peacekeepers, the Kremlin repeated today that such a move would be unacceptable.
The PM – who is due to visit Don in Washington this week- has called for a peace plan that could see thousands of troops on the ground in Ukraine.
And he announced today a whopping £13 billion increase in defence after he pledged to raise military spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP.
Speaking in the House of Commons, the PM said today: “Instability in Europe will always wash up on our shores… tyrants like Putin only respond to strength.
“Russia is a menace in our waters, in our airspace and on our streets – they’ve launched cyber attacks on our NHS [and] only seven years ago, a chemical weapons attack on the streets of Salisbury.
He says the UK “must” stand by Ukraine.
“If we do not achieve a lasting peace, then the economic instability, a threat to our security, will only grow.”
Following a meeting with Macron at The White House, the US President said he believes Russia is going “all-out” to make sure the war ends Putin “has no problem” with European peacekeepers.
He said he accepted the idea of European peacekeepers in Ukraine if a settlement was reached to end the war.
He said: “Yeah, he will accept that. I specifically asked him that question. He has no problem with it.”
But Moscow has repeatedly opposed having NATO troops in Ukraine – and Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov repeated Russia‘s views today.
He said: “There is a position on this matter that was expressed by the Russian Foreign Minister, Lavrov.
“I have nothing to add to this and nothing to comment on. I leave this without comment.”
Peskov refers to Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s statement last week that such a move would be seen as a “direct threat” to Russia.
Peskov added: “We observe that the US is adopting a much more balanced position, which significantly aids efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
“We certainly welcome this development. We believe that such a balanced approach indicates a sincere commitment to contributing to a settlement.
“The statements made from Brussels, including from Kyiv yesterday evening, do not yet signal a balance, but perhaps, based on the results of contacts between Europeans and Americans, Europe will gravitate towards greater balance.”
Starmer is due to fly to Washington this week to present his plan that sees peacekeeping troops in Ukraine as part of any peace deal brokered by the US President.
His visit comes amid mounting fears that he is facing a mission impossible at the White House.
Other European leaders have expressed their scepticism during talks in Paris last week.
Germany’s chancellor Olaf Scholz branded the plan “completely premature”, “highly inappropriate”, and that he was “a little irritated”.
He then stormed out of the meeting adding that the sheer thought of making decisions seemingly on behalf of Ukraine was “irritating”.
France and Sweden spoke out in favour of the plan but didn’t go as far as Starmer who said he is willing to deploy British troops.
ANALYSIS
By Jack Elsom, Chief Political Correspondent
AS is so often the case for prime ministers, Sir Keir Starmer is being buffeted by global events outside his control.
Today’s uplift in defence spending has been brought about just as much by the man in the White House as it has the man in No10.
Donald Trump’s demands for European leaders to hike their military budgets and cease free-riding off America has jolted allies into action.
Yes, Sir Keir has long promised to raise defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP – but the new US administration has created a fresh sense of urgency.
Now he has something to sell to the notoriously transactional Trump when he heads to Washington this week.
The Sun has long demanded more money for our armed forces, joining calls from top brass, MPs, and NATO leaders to safeguard our defence and security.
And many will delighted that Labour is taking an axe to our foreign aid spending to pay for the armed forces cash boost.
The Sun recently revealed the millions being frittered on ludicrious overseas projects, like studying shrimp health in Bangladesh or gifting electric cars to Albanian jails.
It is also a shrewd political move from the PM – poll after poll shows voters favour slashing foreign aid spending.
Some will say it is “too little too late”, but now Sir Keir has some real ammunition to answer his critics.
