The United Kingdom and Sweden Could Send Troops to Ukraine After the War

European leaders met on Monday in Paris to discuss how to respond to the recent diplomatic moves by the Trump administration related to Ukraine.

Among the attendees were the leaders of Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, and the European Union, who gathered following announcements by Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, about the shift in U.S. security priorities, which would divert attention away from Europe.

Additionally, President Trump declared that the United States would hold unilateral talks with Russia to try to end the war in Ukraine.

Before the meeting, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared for the first time that the United Kingdom could deploy troops in Ukraine to secure eventual peace.

Starmer highlighted that Europe faces a "unique moment for the collective security of our continent," emphasizing that Ukraine's future is crucial not only for the country but for the security of all of Europe.

In an editorial in the Telegraph newspaper, he said that the United Kingdom was willing to "play a leading role in accelerating work on security guarantees for Ukraine," which would include more military support and the deployment of British troops as part of a peacekeeping force if necessary.

Starmer added that U.S. support would remain essential, as a U.S. security guarantee is crucial for achieving lasting peace.

He also emphasized that the war should not end in a temporary pause before Putin could attack again, but rather ensure a definitive peace that "prevents future Russian attacks."

Meanwhile, Sweden also showed willingness to send peacekeeping forces to Ukraine in the future, although Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard emphasized in an interview that a just and sustainable peace that respects international law must first be achieved and ensure that Russia can't withdraw and regroup to attack Ukraine or another country.

"Once we have that peace in place, we will need to ensure its maintenance, and for that, our government doesn't rule out any option," Stenergard said.

Although other European powers did not make explicit commitments, calling discussions on peacekeeping force deployment premature, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk absolutely ruled out sending Polish troops to Ukraine.

Nonetheless, Tusk urged European countries to spend more on defense immediately. On his social media, he highlighted that if Europe doesn't invest what is necessary in defense now, it would be forced to spend ten times more if it doesn't prevent a broader war.

On the other hand, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also indicated that Sweden would participate in discussions on peacekeeping forces in Ukraine, although he reiterated that this would only be possible when a clear mandate has been achieved for it.

Kristersson, in an interview during a military exercise in the Swedish capital, indicated that Sweden, as part of the region's security, would likely contribute to this mission.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday for what are expected to be talks with Russian officials about ending the nearly three-year-long war between Russia and Ukraine.

Although some European countries, like the United Kingdom and Sweden, expressed willingness to contribute troops and military support to ensure peace in Ukraine, others, like Poland, were more cautious, emphasizing the need to ensure a sustainable and internationally law-abiding peace before any force deployment.