Keir Starmer today promised that MPs will get a vote before British troops are put on the ground in Ukraine.
During PMQs clashes, Kemi Badenoch challenged Sir Keir for details of how many personnel could be deployed to guarantee a mooted peace deal.
But the premier said he could not give any further information, after announcing last night that he had agreed in principle to provide troops.
‘If there is a decision to deploy then I would put that matter to this House,’ Sir Keir said.
Following talks in the French capital yesterday, the PM signed an agreement – dubbed the ‘Paris Declaration’ – to commit the UK to the deployment of forces.
Keir Starmer today promised that MPs will get a vote before British troops are put on the ground in Ukraine
During PMQs clashes, Kemi Badenoch challenged Sir Keir for details of how many personnel could be deployed to guarantee a mooted peace deal
The document outlined how Britain and France will establish military hubs across Ukraine in the event of a peace deal with Russia.
Sir Keir signed alongside Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky after discussions between the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ of Western allies.
‘Yesterday, I stood side by side with our European and American allies and President Zelensky at the Coalition of the Willing meeting in Paris,’ Sir Keir told the Commons.
‘We made real progress on security guarantees, which are vital for securing a just and lasting peace.
‘Along with President Macron and President Zelensky, we agreed a declaration of intent for the deployment of forces in the event of a peace deal. We will set out the details in a statement at the earliest opportunity.
‘I will keep the house updated as the situation develops and, were troops to be deployed under the declaration signed, I would put that matter to the House for a vote.’
The Paris talks were attended by Steve Witkoff, who is Donald Trump‘s peace envoy, and Jared Kushner, the US President’s son-in-law.
The ‘Multinational Force for Ukraine’ is set to act as a ‘reassurance force’ should Moscow and Kyiv agree to end their almost four-year-long conflict.
Meanwhile, the US is set to provide security guarantees to the peacekeeping force with Mr Kushner revealing Mr Trump is ready to offer ‘real backstops’.
At a press conference in Paris, Sir Keir said Ukraine and its allies were ‘closer’ to peace ‘than ever’ – but warned ‘the hardest yards are still ahead’.
The PM added that Vladimir Putin was ‘not showing that he’s ready for peace’.
Mrs Badenoch said it was ‘astonishing’ Sir Keir was not making a statement in Parliament on the Ukraine agreement which he signed in France this week.
‘The last few days have seen significant international events – the US operation in Venezuela, threats towards Greenland and an agreement to put British troops on the ground in Ukraine – so it is frankly astonishing that the Prime Minister is not making a full statement to Parliament today,’ she said.
Leaders from the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ group of Ukrainian allies gathered for the discussions in the French capital
The Conservative leader said the decision not to make a Commons statement showed a ‘fundamental lack of respect’ for MPs and their constituents.
But Sir Keir replied: ‘Let me be very clear about what was agreed yesterday, because military plans were drawn up some months ago and I’ve updated the House in relation to that. Yesterday was a political declaration that sits under those military plans.
‘If there were to be deployment, there would have to be a legal instrument. Deployment would only be after a ceasefire to support Ukraine’s capabilities, to conduct deterrent operations and to construct and protect military hubs.’
To shouts of ‘when’ from Conservative MPs, Sir Keir added: ‘There will be a statement to the House at the earliest opportunity.’
He later continued: ‘If there were a decision to deploy, under the agreement that was signed yesterday, then I would put that matter to this House for a debate beforehand and for a vote on that deployment – that is consistent with recent practice and I’ll adhere to that.’
