Russia claims Sir Keir Starmer’s plans for a peace-keeping force involving British troops in Ukraine as a ‘step towards escalation’

Russia railed against Sir Keir Starmer’s plans for a peace-keeping force involving British troops in Ukraine, saying it would be a ‘step towards escalation’.

Moscow issued the chilling warning after the Prime Minister revealed he was ‘ready and willing’ to deploy forces to help police any ceasefire deal.

The development came after the first talks aimed at ending the war got under way yesterday between the US and Russia in Saudi Arabia.

Michael Waltz, Donald Trump’s National Security Adviser, appeared to back Sir Keir’s plan, saying his pledge to look at sending UK troops was ‘a good thing’.

But within minutes, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov claimed soldiers from any Nato nation being deployed in Ukraine would be ‘unacceptable to us’.

And his deputy Alexander Grushko added: ‘Under whatever guise they appear there, this is a step towards escalation.’

The clash highlights the narrow path to peace in the coming months – with the US said to be looking to strike a ceasefire deal by Easter. 

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who negotiated alongside Mr Waltz and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in Riyadh, said the talks were a ‘first step of a long and difficult journey’.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (left), who negotiated alongside Michael Waltz (right) and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in Riyadh, said the talks were a first step of a long and difficult journey

The Kremlin claimed Putin would be ready to talk to Mr Zelensky if necessary but went on to cast doubt on the Ukrainian president’s legitimacy in the job (Pictured: Putin)

In an effort to ease fears that a deal could be imposed on Ukraine, he stated any peace pact would have to be ‘acceptable’ to ‘everyone’ and that President Trump wanted to ‘bring an end to this conflict in a way that’s fair, enduring, sustainable’.

But signalling that Ukraine may be forced to give up land already invaded by Vladimir Putin’s forces, he said there will have ‘to be concessions made by all sides’.

Mr Waltz added: ‘There’s going to be some discussion of territory and there’s going to be a discussion of security guarantees.

‘The death and destruction that’s happening as this war goes on and on, month after month, in the killing fields of east and southern Ukraine is unacceptable.

‘The important thing is we have started that process and what the President did not find acceptable was an endless war in Europe that was turning into a meat grinder of people on both sides.’

On Sir Keir’s pledge to put UK boots on the ground as part of any peacekeeping force, he added: ‘We all have to contribute to our defence and we expect this to be a two-way street for our allies.

‘That the UK, France and others are talking about contributing more forcefully to Ukraine’s security we think is a good thing.’

But Volodymyr Zelensky took issue with the talks to which he was not invited. Ukraine’s president cancelled a trip to Riyadh so as not to give ‘legitimacy’ to the meeting and said talks ‘should not take place behind our backs’.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov (pictured, centre) claimed soldiers from any Nato nation being deployed in Ukraine would be unacceptable

Mr Waltz insisted Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured), along with other European leaders, have not been sidelined

He insisted Ukraine would not ‘give in to Russia’s ultimatums’.

The Kremlin claimed Mr Putin would be ready to talk to Mr Zelensky ‘if necessary’ but went on to cast doubt on the Ukrainian president’s legitimacy in the job.

Mr Waltz insisted Mr Zelensky, along with other European leaders, have been ‘consulted almost on a daily basis’ and they have not been sidelined. He added that European leaders will also have a seat ‘at the table at some point’.

Mr Rubio said he was ‘convinced’ that Russia is ‘willing’ to begin engaging in a ‘serious process’.

He added a peace deal could lead to ‘incredible opportunities to partner with the Russians, geopolitically, on issues of common interest and frankly economically, historic economic partnerships as well’. 

Mr Lavrov, negotiating alongside Mr Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov, said the talks were ‘useful’, adding: ‘We listened and heard each other.

‘We have many dividing lines [but] we felt the determination of our American colleagues to move forward.’ 

Yet he added: ‘The appearance of troops of armed forces from the Nato countries, whether under a foreign flag, under the flag of the European Union or under national flags, does not change anything. This is unacceptable.’

Donald Trump did back the UK’s peacekeeping plan but asked where all the money is going that has been given to Ukraine

UK Defence Secretary John Healey (pictured) vowed yesterday to ‘re-arm Britain’ to cope with a ‘new era of threat’, but refused to accelerate higher defence spending

Sir Keir has said no deal will be supported by European leaders without the US agreeing to a security ‘backstop’ or ‘guarantee’.

This will dominate discussions when the the Prime Minster goes to Washington next week.

Mr Trump last night did back the UK’s peacekeeping plan but asked where all the money is going that has been given to Ukraine and repeated his belief the war would never have happened if he had remained President in 2020. 

He added: ‘I think I have the power to end this war.’

It comes as UK Defence Secretary John Healey claimed decisions ‘over the coming weeks will not only define the outcome of the conflict in Ukraine but the security of our world for a generation’.

He vowed yesterday to ‘re-arm Britain’ to cope with a ‘new era of threat’, but refused to accelerate higher defence spending.

Mr Healey used an event in central London to claim the Government had an ‘unshakeable commitment’ to the military.

He said it also wanted to usher in ‘a new era of defence’ after years of war in Ukraine and following Sir Keir Starmer’s suggestion that UK troops could police a ceasefire with Russia.

But his tough talk fell flat after he admitted boosting spending to 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) – the measure of national economic output – would not be fast-tracked.

Asked about Nato chief Mark Rutte’s calls for allies to spend ‘considerably more’ than 3 per cent, he said it was important to take ‘one step at a time’. 

Britain spends 2.3 per cent of GDP on defence – around £54billion a year. Ahead of the election last July, the Tories pledged to raise it to 2.5 per cent by 2030.

Labour has promised to increase it by the same amount, but has failed to set out a timetable, saying it is waiting for a defence review to conclude.

Lord West, a former First Sea Lord, said the delays were ‘ludicrous’, while former head of the Army, General Lord Dannatt, said: ‘There’s a complete lack of urgency here.’

Speaking at the Institute of Government think-tank, Mr Healey said the Armed Forces had been ‘hollowed out’ by cuts, but a shake-up of defence spending would include four new leaders tasked with cutting costs, planning for war, driving growth and delivering the UK’s nuclear programme. 

He said they would save at least £10billion in a decade – money that would be reinvested ‘directly’.

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