{"id":2706,"date":"2025-02-18T00:02:02","date_gmt":"2025-02-18T00:02:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.euro-tv.ro\/news\/starmer-urges-us-support-for-european-peacekeeping-force-in-ukraine\/"},"modified":"2025-02-18T00:02:02","modified_gmt":"2025-02-18T00:02:02","slug":"starmer-urges-us-support-for-european-peacekeeping-force-in-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.euro-tv.ro\/news\/starmer-urges-us-support-for-european-peacekeeping-force-in-ukraine\/","title":{"rendered":"Starmer urges US support for European peacekeeping force in Ukraine"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Starmer<\/p>\n

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called on U.S. President Donald Trump to provide American military backing for a proposed European peacekeeping force in Ukraine, arguing that only a U.S. security guarantee can deter Russia from launching further aggression. <\/p>\n

His appeal came after an emergency summit in Paris on Feb. 17, where European leaders debated increasing defense spending and discussed the potential deployment of European forces, according to the Guardian<\/a>. Starmer reiterated his willingness to send British troops<\/a> as part of a multinational force but insisted that U.S. involvement was essential to ensure its effectiveness.<\/p>\n

The Paris summit, convened by French President Emmanuel Macron on short notice, reflected growing European concerns that Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin may be negotiating over European security without the direct involvement of European leaders. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
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\u2018A push for Ukraine\u2019s capitulation\u2019 \u2013 Baltic, Eastern Europe react to Trump\u2019s rush to negotiate peace with Putin<\/div>\n
Editor\u2019s note: The article was updated on Feb. 14 to include the Latvian Foreign Ministry\u2019s comments. European nations, particularly Ukraine\u2019s neighbors and the Baltic states, were stunned when the U.S. President Donald Trump suddenly announced the start of peace negotiations with Russian President\u2026<\/div>\n
\"StarmerThe Kyiv Independent<\/span>Asami Terajima<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"Starmer<\/div>\n

<\/a><\/figure>\n

While some leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, opposed discussions on deploying a European force, Starmer pushed forward, arguing that European troops would need American logistical and military support. U.K. defense officials have stressed that even a non-combat peacekeeping force of 30,000 troops would require NATO\u2019s protection, particularly in terms of air cover and logistics.<\/p>\n

Scholz, while agreeing that a European force could not operate without U.S. backing, dismissed the timing of the debate as premature. He criticized discussions about troop deployment while Russia continues its war in Ukraine, arguing that the focus should remain on military and financial support for Kyiv. <\/p>\n

Other European leaders, including Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, emphasized the urgent need to boost European defense spending to counter Russia\u2019s military power. Tusk warned that unless European countries take immediate steps to strengthen their defenses, they will struggle to provide meaningful support for Ukraine.<\/p>\n

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If we, Europeans, fail to spend big on defence now, we will be forced to spend 10 times more if we don\u2019t prevent a wider war. As the Polish PM I\u2019m entitled to say it loud and clear, since Poland already spends almost 5% of its GDP on defence. And we will continue to do so.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) February 17, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n