Putin Would Violate the Ukraine Peace Accord Without Robust Security, Starmer Warns

As UK-led military negotiations heat up, Keir Starmer cautions that Putin would violate a peace agreement with Ukraine if the country did not have robust security measures.

Sir Keir Starmer, the prime minister of the United Kingdom, has issued a warning that unless robust security measures are implemented, Russian President Vladimir Putin will breach any peace deal with Ukraine. After a high-level military summit in London, Starmer underlined that military preparation is necessary to support a long-term peace and guarantee harsh penalties for any Russian violations.

At a confidential meeting held at the UK’s Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood, Starmer heard proposals from over 20 countries to secure Ukraine as part of a possible peace agreement. In order to get ready for the final deal, he claimed that the UK and its allies were shifting from “political momentum” to “military planning.”

“We know one thing for sure—Putin will reach a deal without security backing, so it is vitally important that we do that work,” Starmer said. “We are aware of that because it has happened before, and I am positive it will happen again.”

The so-called “coalition of the willing” military chiefs and Defense Secretary John Healey planned in great detail for a possible troop deployment. But according to defense and diplomatic officials, any foreign military deployment in Ukraine should be referred to as a “reassurance force” as opposed to a “peacekeeping force.”

“There’s no pulling back from our commitments to other countries,” Starmer said, ruling out the possibility of British troops being removed from their current responsibilities, such as those in Estonia, and sent to Ukraine. According to Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard, talks were on operational coordination, including air support, rather than military numbers at this time.

One suggestion reportedly discussed at the conference was to send British Typhoon fighters to Ukraine to offer air cover.
Because we’re still figuring out the force’s structure, Pollard stated, “We’re not yet talking about numbers” of possible UK troop deployments to Ukraine.

Using a Typhoon aircraft as an example, he asked how the other countries would cooperate if one country provided fast jet combat air. Are you going to refill it? What will it do with the capabilities of other countries?

Discussions, according to the minister of armed forces, should be held to make sure “any force in or around Ukraine can be as credible as possible.”

While the UK led security-focused negotiations, diplomatic efforts to end the war are still ongoing. Speaking in Norway, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Russia to refrain from establishing “requirements that are unnecessary and will only prolong the war.”

A 30-day truce has been proposed by Zelensky and Putin, and the US has been trying to mediate a ceasefire. Conflicting circumstances, however, have prevented any consensus from emerging. Although US President Donald Trump has called both leaders, the talks have not progressed.

The Kremlin has announced that US-Russian discussions will take place next Monday, which also happens to be the day of a meeting between Ukrainian and US officials in Saudi Arabia. Following more than three years of fighting, the talks represent continued international efforts to end the crisis.

In order to ensure that any peace agreement is more than just a brief cessation of hostilities, Starmer’s warning emphasizes the importance of protecting Ukraine from future Russian aggression while diplomatic and military policies develop.