MPs would get to vote on any potential deployment of troops to Ukraine, Sir Keir Starmer has said after he committed to sending a peacekeeping force to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia.
The prime minister told MPs: “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.”
Speaking at PMQs, he added that military plans “were drawn up some months ago” and deployment “would only be after a ceasefire to support Ukraine’s capabilities”.
It comes after Sir Keir and French President Emmanuel Macron held a meeting of the coalition of the willing in Paris on Tuesday.
At the meeting, the two nations signed a joint declaration pledging to deploy troops to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal being agreed with Russia, to guarantee the nation’s security.
The agreement states a “multinational force for Ukraine” would be deployed to the eastern European country to deter further attacks from Russia and bolster security guarantees.
Sir Keir had previously stated the UK might deploy troops to Ukraine following a peace deal, but the agreement now creates the legal framework for allowing British and French troops to operate there.
As well as ensuring soldiers would be deployed on Ukrainian soil, the agreement also covers protection for Ukraine’s skies and sea.
Additionally, the declaration states the two countries would establish “military hubs” in Ukraine, so military equipment could be deployed for defensive needs.
Sir Keir accused of being ‘scared’
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch criticised Sir Keir for not announcing the agreement in a formal statement to the House of Commons.
She accused him of “not wanting” MPs to ask him questions and of being “scared”.
“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,” Ms Badenoch said.
She added that this showed a “fundamental lack of respect” for MPs and their constituents.
Sir Keir replied there will be a statement to the Commons “at the earliest opportunity”.
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He also stressed MPs would get to debate the matter as part of the vote.
“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,” he said.
