Sir Keir Starmer has suggested MPs would get a vote on potential deployment of British troops in Ukraine, saying Parliament will be able to “express its view”, but the situation is currently “nowhere near that stage”.
The Prime Minister responded to concerns of MPs on the UK “coming to a direct military conflict with a nuclear armed Russia” and personnel being sent “into harm’s way” without a US security agreement.
Sir Keir convened an emergency summit of European leaders over the weekend as allies scrambled to find a way forward following the Oval Office row between US President Donald Trump, vice president JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Key to the European discussions has been an insistence on the inclusion of an American backstop as part of any peacekeeping deal in order to deter future Russian aggression.
The US has not yet committed to providing any such security guarantee, which the UK sees as essential to ensuring a “durable and lasting” ceasefire.
In his statement to the Commons on Monday, Sir Keir said the “coalition of the willing” European leaders agreed to “intensify planning now”.
He said: “As this House would expect, Britain will play a leading role. With, if necessary and together with others, boots on the ground and planes in the air.
“It is right that Europe do the heavy lifting to support peace on our continent, but to succeed, this effort must also have strong US backing.
“I want to assure the House I take none of this lightly. I visited British troops in Estonia and no aspect of my role weighs more heavily than the deployment of British troops in the service of the defence and security in Europe, and yet I do feel very strongly that the future of Ukraine is vital for our national security.”
Labour MP for Leeds East, Richard Burgon, welcomed the “growing push” for a peace deal in Ukraine but raised concern on the UK coming into direct conflict with Russia.
He said: “I am alarmed by the issue of deploying British troops on the ground in Ukraine and British military planes in the skies over Ukraine, because there’s no getting away from the fact that would risk our country coming to a direct military conflict with a nuclear-armed Russia, and the consequences of millions of people in our country and across Europe of such war and nuclear conflict really don’t bear thinking about.
“So, given the enormity of such a decision, will the Prime Minister commit to ensuring a vote in the House of Commons before any such deployment in keeping with the important principles of our parliamentary democracy?”