Britain is preparing to send troops to Ukraine for post-war peace

London/Munich (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Starmer said on Sunday he was ready to send British troops to Ukraine as part of any post-war peacekeeping force. He sought to show the United States that European countries should play a role in negotiations to end the conflict.

Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Mr Starmer said the end of the war "cannot be a pause before [Russian President Vladimir] Putin strikes again". Starmer said he was prepared to send British troops if necessary to contribute to Ukraine's security.

He said he had not taken the decision lightly to consider putting British servicemen and women in harm's way, but that securing a lasting peace in Ukraine was vital to deter further aggression by Mr Putin. Starmer's comments are the first time he has explicitly said he is considering deploying British peacekeepers to Ukraine.

Starmer, who is expected to travel to Washington soon, said Britain could play a "unique role" in negotiations to end the war, acting as a bridge between Europe and the United States in the Ukraine peace process.

Mr Starmer said: "Europe and the US must continue to work closely together and I believe the UK can play a unique role in helping to make this happen. We are at a critical moment for Europe's collective security. At stake is not only the future of Ukraine, but the survival of all of Europe."

U.S. President Donald Trump shocked Ukraine and Europe last week when he spoke with Putin on the phone and offered to launch a peace process without consulting NATO's European Allies or Ukraine. Senior U.S. and Russian officials will hold talks in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to seek an end to the nearly three-year war between Russia and Ukraine.

According to a document seen by Reuters, the United States sent a questionnaire to European Allies last week listing six points and questions about what they need from Washington to participate in Ukraine's security arrangements.