The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, stated that the war with Russia is related not only to "the sovereignty of Ukraine" but also to its impact on the United Kingdom.
He gave an interview to Sky News during an unexpected visit to Ukraine on Thursday - his first visit since his party's convincing victory in the elections six months ago.
It was noted that the purpose of the trip was to discuss the next steps for Ukraine, as the situation has become more uncertain following Donald Trump's victory in the elections in November.
Starmer mentioned that he does not want to "jump the gun," but assured that the United Kingdom would play its "full role" in any peace negotiations - including the deployment of British troops to maintain peace.
When asked if he was prepared to do so, the Prime Minister responded:
"Well, I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but I have made it clear that we will play our full role - because this is not just about sovereignty in Ukraine. It’s about what impact this will have on the United Kingdom and our values, our freedom, our democracy. Because if Russia succeeds in this aggression, it will affect all of us for a very, very long time."
Upon arriving in Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky, a Russian drone was shot down in the sky above the presidential palace.
Starmer stated that the threat of the drone was a "reminder of what Ukraine faces every day," and that the war was caused by "Russian aggression."
The possibility of deploying peacekeepers to Ukraine
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron are considering the idea of sending British and French soldiers to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping mission following a potential ceasefire agreement. This was reported by The Telegraph.