Starmer on Ukraine's security: Putin wants to leave it defenceless, and I don't trust it

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, photo: Bloomberg via Getty Images

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasises the need to maintain close relations between the US and Europe, despite President Donald Trump's scepticism towards European allies.

In an interview with The New York Times, he said that Britain should not choose between the US and Europe. At the same time, he agreed with Trump that European countries should invest more in their own defence.

One of the key issues is the role of Britain and Europe in Trump's possible talks with Vladimir Putin. To influence these processes, Starmer is initiating the creation of a multinational military force, which he calls the «Coalition of the Resolute». Its purpose is to protect Ukraine's skies, ports and borders after any peaceful settlement.

«I do not trust Putin. He will try to make Ukraine defenceless after the agreement so that he can invade again,» said Keir Starmer.

However, his initiative is facing difficulties: Russia rejects the idea of a NATO peacekeeping force, and Trump has not yet provided the security guarantees needed to deploy troops.

Nevertheless, the British prime minister said he must act decisively: «If we move at the pace of the most cautious, we will move very slowly and we will not be in the position we need to be in».

Earlier, during an online meeting «of the Coalition of the Willing», Keir Starmer discussed the possibility of deploying a peacekeeping force of more than 10,000 troops to Ukraine.

It is noted that Starmer's initiative has received wider support than expected, and more countries are ready to join it than the three states that initially offered to send their military.