Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told parliamentarians on Wednesday that getting Britain drawn into war is “the last thing anybody wants to see.”
Speaking during the Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Starmer said he is doing “everything he can” to keep in regular contact with “all key players,” including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to secure a peace deal.
Britain wants ensure lasting peace by guaranteeing that any Ukraine peace agreement, if reached, is effectively upheld to prevent conflict, he added.
Earlier this week, Starmer said MPs would have a vote on any British troop deployment to Ukraine, but added that the situation is “nowhere near that stage.”
The leader of the opposition Kemi Badenoch addressed suggestions that United States has instructed Britain to suspend intelligence sharing with Ukraine and that the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance may be at risk.
He asked the prime minister whether he agrees that any peace deal without the U.S. would be a burden on Britain and British taxpayers.
Starmer agreed and stressed that UK wants to see global cooperation to reach a deal. He added that London must not choose between Europe and U.S.
“We never have historically, and we’re not going to do so now,” he told the MPs.
The exchange in parliament follows the fallout between U.S. President Donald Trump and Zelensky at the White House last week.
Zelensky added that is ready to work under president Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.
Starmer, who met with Trump last week, said that the U.S. leader made it “absolutely clear” that he supports NATO’s Article 5 and assured he would back Britain due to the ties between their parties.
Reliable Partner
The UK government has long maintained it sees the United States as a reliable partner.When questioned over the reliability of the United States by the Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, Starmer said:
“We work very closely with the United States on defence, on security and on intelligence. We have done for many, many years. We’re intertwined, and of course, they’re a reliable ally.”
The prime minister paid tribute to British soldiers who have died in conflict in recent years.
This came after U.S. Vice President JD Vance clarified that his recent remarks on a potential European peacekeeping force in Ukraine were not directed at the UK or France.
Vance had previously cast doubt on the effectiveness of “20,000 troops from some random country that has not fought a war in 30 or 40 years” in monitoring a potential ceasefire.
Since returning to power in January, the U.S. administration has urged Europe to increase defence spending.
U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth called the defence spending boost a “strong step from an enduring partner.”
He is set to meet UK Defence Secretary John Healey in Washington on Thursday.
The UK leader will be joined by his French and Ukrainian counterparts at the meeting with Trump, which will take place in the “short-term,” she added.
