Keir Starmer’s proposal to have European troops stationed in Ukraine, with security guarantees from America, is “a very long path” to become reality.
This is the point of view of the former UK national security advisor Sir Mark Lyall Grant.
He says Sophy Ridge Although the Prime Minister “is” right “of having publicly suggested such a arrangement in the event of a peace agreement, especially before his trip to the White House next week, the Russian opposition to this makes everything unlikely.
“It will never be carried out unless there is an agreement of the two parties on a sort of permanent agreement which guarantees the future sovereignty of Ukraine and has credible security guarantees,” he said.
“I think we are very far from that today. Starmer’s gesture is more political than a military decision.”
Watch: Could we see British troops in Ukraine?
“ Trump can always be a peacemaker ”
Starmer should go to the White House with two main messages, he said.
First, that the United Kingdom “goes up to the plate” in terms of support for Ukraine, and secondly on the importance of Trump helping to ensure lasting peace that Russia does not break.
“There is a real opportunity for Trump to be peaceful, but it must be credible peace – he can legitimately try to win the Nobel Peace Prize if he is the architect of a lasting peace and finish this conflict, “he said.
“But if he opts for a rapid, down and dirty peace agreement which will not last several years, his inheritance will be ransacked in the same way as President Biden was by the withdrawal of Afghanistan.”