UK PM says ready to send troops to Ukraine if needed as part of peace deal

https://www.france24.com/en/li...s-part-of-peace-deal

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Sunday he was "ready and willing" to put UK troops on the ground in Ukraine, as part of any postwar peacekeeping force, to ensure the security of Britain and Europe. Writing in the Daily Telegraph, the UK Prime Minister said it was "essential to deter Putin from further aggression in the future".

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Sunday he was ready to send British troops to Ukraine as part of any postwar peacekeeping force as talks aimed at ending the conflict were set to begin this week.

Starmer said he had not taken the decision to consider putting British servicemen and women "in harm's way" lightly, but securing a lasting peace in Ukraine was essential to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from further aggression.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday said Ukraine and Europe would be part of any "real negotiations" to end Moscow's war, signaling that US talks with Russia this week were a chance to see how serious Putin is about peace.

The end of Russia's war with Ukraine "when it comes, cannot merely become a temporary pause before Putin attacks again," Starmer wrote in the Daily Telegraph newspaper.

Starmer is expected to join German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and other European leaders in Paris after French President Emmanuel Macron convened the talks on Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump stunned European allies in NATO and Ukraine last week when he announced he had held a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin without consulting with them and would start a peace process.

Trump's Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, then suggested Ukraine and other European leaders would have no place at peace negotiations.

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Originally posted by oddball:
From today: Zelenskyy is in the Fuck Around stage, he will soon see the Find Out stage soon enough. "I will never accept any decisions between the United States and Russia"

The interviewer is stupid. She said Trump did not say "Yes" when asked if Ukraine was an equal member in the peace process... he did say later that Ukraine would have a seat at the table.

Of course Ukraine is NOT "an equal member" in the peace process... when you are begging you are by definition not in an equal position.

Zelensky should acknowledge reality.

More importantly the US can not ask for territorial concessions from Russia nor involve the Europeans in any way. Russia has already ruled out both per Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/world/...ls-saudi-2025-02-17/

Zelensky foolishly thinks he has a leg to stand on when his military has been all but destroyed and his opponent has the world's two strongest countries backing him.

European leaders are meeting in Paris Monday, at President Macron's invitation, for an urgent meeting assessing the Ukraine war and Europe's defense readiness and security.

It's time to let Zelensky, NATO, and the EU go their own way. He’s a crook, and the EU is complicit. But so was the Biden admin. and several members of the US Senate. If it were up to me I’d get us out of NATO and the UN. They haven’t served our interests for a very long time.

Moving the Peace Talks to Saudi Arabia is a great move by President Trump. It puts the Europeans on notice- They're not the center of the universe.

US, Russia To Hold Peace Talks In Saudi Arabia Without Ukraine, Even As Zelensky Visits Gulf

https://www.zerohedge.com/geop...zelensky-visits-gulf

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned on X that "Europe's security is at a turning point." She continued in the statement she wrote while arriving in Paris for "crucial talks" with European counterparts on the Russia-Ukraine war, "Yes, it is about Ukraine – but it is also about us."

"We need an urgency mindset. We need a surge in defense," she wrote. "And we need both of them now." The words come immediately on the heels of von der Leyen telling the Munich Security Conference, "I will propose to activate the escape clause for defense investments. This will allow member states to substantially increase their defense expenditure."

Europe is also deeply concerned that it is getting cut out of peace talks toward a negotiated settlement to end the Ukraine war. They are worried President Zelensky himself is getting sidelined, after last week's 90-minute Trump call with Putin.

Several media outlets reported on Sunday that initial talks will be held in Saudi Arabia, expected to kick off Tuesday, between Russian and American diplomats. Both sides have confirmed the talks:

Moscow has confirmed that Russian FM Sergey Lavrov and Yuri Ushakov, a foreign policy adviser to Putin, will take part in talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

Washington has also confirmed the meeting, saying Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and special envoy Steve Witkoff will attend.

Lavrov says Russia is not considering territorial concessions to be given to Ukraine at the planned negotiations to end the war.
It appears final details ahead of the high-level talks were hammered out in a Saturday phone call between Secretary of State Rubio and top Russian diplomat and security official Sergey Lavrov.

"The Secretary re-affirmed President Trump’s commitment to finding an end to the conflict in Ukraine. In addition, they discussed the opportunity to potentially work together on a number of other bilateral issues," a readout of that call indicated.

Crucially, Ukrainian officials have revealed were not invited to the talks in Saudi Arabia. Zelensky reiterated in a Sunday interview that he will "never accept any decisions between the United States and Russia about Ukraine" if Ukrainian officials aren't at the table.

As for a potential decision or concession amid the looming deal-making to end the war, European officials are saying President Trump will likely approve the withdrawal of US forces from Baltic states and possibly further to the West, in order to ease Russian fears of Washington encroachment, according to reporting in Al Jazeera.

As for the imminent US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia:

Kyiv 'knew nothing' about US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia and won't recognize their outcome if Ukraine is not part of them – Zelensky

Ukraine's Kyiv Post is reporting the same:

Ukraine was not informed about the negotiations in Saudi Arabia, will not participate in them, and will not recognize any agreements reached, — Zelensky

Strangely, President Zelensky is actually currently in the Gulf region, visiting UAE, and he's next traveling to Saudi Arabia—and yet he's not going to be part of the the US-Russia talks.

His office is stressing that his state visit to Saudi Arabia has nothing to do with the US talks, as it was planned in advance:

Days before Svyrydenko's announcement, Zelensky told reporters on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference that he intends to pay official visits to Saudia Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey, but has no plans to meet with any Russian or U.S. delegations in these countries.

"I will not meet with Russians, but then I will not meet with Americans there," he said.



That's awkward, to say the least...

Still, the Ukrainian leader has said these talks will "yield no results" without Ukraine's direct representation and input. Many of his European backers agree, and have been urging Washington include Kiev in the negotiations.

European leaders are meeting in Paris Monday, at President Macron's invitation, for an urgent meeting assessing the Ukraine war and Europe's defense readiness and security.

I still don't get what right Europe or Ukraine think they have to add their own 2 cents on the matter. Ukraine shouldn't be rewarded for starting this whole mess in the first place. Zelensky was presented with very clear terms in 2022 but now he wants to "negotiate".

quote:

Kyiv 'knew nothing' about US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia and won't recognize their outcome if Ukraine is not part of them – Zelensky

, oh, wait, he's serious.


He might recognize a clue-bat when it's applied up the side of his head and he goes on the run.

quote:

Strangely, President Zelensky is actually currently in the Gulf region, visiting UAE, and he's next traveling to Saudi Arabia—and yet he's not going to be part of the the US-Russia talks.

His office is stressing that his state visit to Saudi Arabia has nothing to do with the US talks, as it was planned in advance:

Days before Svyrydenko's announcement, Zelensky told reporters on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference that he intends to pay official visits to Saudia Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey, but has no plans to meet with any Russian or U.S. delegations in these countries.

"I will not meet with Russians, but then I will not meet with Americans there," he said.

Does anyone else think this is funny? I think it's hilarious.

quote:

Originally posted by Carpentermaass84:
I still don't get what right Europe or Ukraine think they have to add their own 2 cents on the matter. Ukraine shouldn't be rewarded for starting this whole mess in the first place. Zelensky was presented with very clear terms in 2022 but now he wants to "negotiate".

. Yeah, Europe and Ukraine have no right to defend and preserve their ways of life. The Ukrainian President was elected by 73 percent of the vote. That speaks for the Ukrainian people. All of the EU, Great Britain and the Baltics should just role over and take it up the ass by 1 little fucker in Russia. That 4 foot tall, pug nose bastard is not worth the million dead and wounded. He is not worth the total destruction of Ukraine. He does not equal the value of all the lost military hardware. But, dictator rule and all. And now, for the sake of a win, America turns tail and runs. Oh sure, we will build interest in Ukraine for 500 billion in rare earth metals. The country is said to be valued at 47 trillion. That's why the little dictator is in Ukraine. Ukraine started nothing and we all know it. President Trump is trying to make something out of this Biden, democrat and rino bastard republicans mess, dropped in his lap. If Ukraine don't accept the terms they get out on them, let them fight this out. They got a right to survive. Putin needs to die. Europe needs to stand up in this shit show. Damned Wagner should have kept going right into Moscow and cleaned house. With only a couple tanks, a few APCs and some rag tag men.

David Lee

quote:

The Ukrainian President was elected by 73 percent of the vote.

Yes he ran on a platform of peace with Russia and was elected. Ukraine and Russia had a ceasefire in place known as the Minsk Accords I and II, which allowed the Donbass region to remain in Ukraine but be self autonomous.

Ukraine repeatedly violated the terms of the peace accords by waging war on the Russian speaking areas of Ukraine known as the Dombass.

Even former German Chancellor Angela Merkel admitted that Ukraine only signed the Minsk agreements in order to fully arm Ukraine in a war against Russia and had no intentions of honoring them.

Zelensky has done the following since being elected President: Declared martial law, eliminated all rival political parties, closed all the Orthodox churches, suspended all elections in Ukraine (His term is expired as President), Banned the Russian language from Ukraine even in Russian ethnic areas. Supported the Neo Nazis in Ukraine (Azov Battalion) and others. Hunter Biden, Kerry's step son and others reportedly were in on the grift and corruption Ukraine is famous for, and Joe Biden got Zelensky to fire the prosecutor that was looking into the corruption of Burisma, that Hunter Biden was working for.

There is probably more but that is all I remember off the top of my head.

The stench is overwhelming and our tax dollars should never be sent to this place.

^^ Correct on all accounts. You did leave out that the U.S. orchestrated a coup in Ukraine, which overthrew the Democratically elected gov't there...A gov't that was favorable to Russia, and especially the ethnic Russians in the Donbas region of Ukraine. That was presumably the final straw in a long list of Russian expressed 'red lines' that prompted Russia to annex Crimea, which was and is the home port of the Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet. The Russians have had a naval base in Crimea since 1783, so for the last 240 years! One 'could' even reasonably conclude that the the annexation of Crimea by Russia was also, at least in part, a response to NATO expansion efforts in Eastern Europe.

^^^ Thanks for the synopsis, guys! I wasn't aware of that.

Yes thank you. I knew some of this but not all. I also thought Russia paid to use the port in Crimea ? I have difficulty seeing Ukraine being any less currupt than Russia. For that matter, our own government.

quote:

^^ Correct on all accounts. You did leave out that the US orchestrated a coup in Ukraine, which overthrew the Democratically elected gov't there...A gov't that was favorable to Russia, and especially the ethnic Russians in the Donbas region of Ukraine. That was the final straw in a long list of Russian expressed 'red lines' that prompted Russia to annex Crimea, which was and is the home port of the Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet. The Russians have had a naval base in Crimea since the 1783, so for the last 240 years! One 'could' even reasonably conclude that the the annexation of Crimea by Russia was also, at least in part, a response to NATO expansion efforts in Eastern Europe.

Totally untrue as it was not a coup. Also Yanukovych was a Putin henchman. Politics has no bearing on Putin's Mafia power grabs. After the Georgia invasion he turned his attention to Crimea & Donbas in 2014. The FSB hired mercenaries to help Russian Special Forces to take over Donetsk and the area between Donetsk & the Russian border. During 2014 & 2015 Rostov-na-Donu, home to the Southern Military Command, was full of the Russian & Chechen mercenaries. Donbas & Rostov regions have always been commercially very integrated, with most of Donbas Ukranians speaking Russian. Everyone must understand that most Russians could care less about Ukraine . This is Putin's war. The beautiful resort areas of Crimea were turned into rundown areas after 2014 according to a friend of my wife who vacationed in Crimea 4 years ago.

quote:

Originally posted by wcb6092:


The stench is overwhelming and our tax dollars should never be sent to this place.

And according to Fox News radio, he will not agree to any terms that does not include continued US money and weapons.

quote:

Originally posted by Anush:

quote:

^^ Correct on all accounts. You did leave out that the US orchestrated a coup in Ukraine, which overthrew the Democratically elected gov't there...A gov't that was favorable to Russia, and especially the ethnic Russians in the Donbas region of Ukraine. That was the final straw in a long list of Russian expressed 'red lines' that prompted Russia to annex Crimea, which was and is the home port of the Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet. The Russians have had a naval base in Crimea since the 1783, so for the last 240 years! One 'could' even reasonably conclude that the the annexation of Crimea by Russia was also, at least in part, a response to NATO expansion efforts in Eastern Europe.

Totally untrue as it was not a coup. Also Yanukovych was a Putin henchman. Politics has no bearing on Putin's Mafia power grabs. After the Georgia invasion he turned his attention to Crimea & Donbas in 2014. The FSB hired mercenaries to help Russian Special Forces to take over Donetsk and the area between Donetsk & the Russian border. During 2014 & 2015 Rostov-na-Donu, home to the Southern Military Command, was full of the Russian & Chechen mercenaries. Donbas & Rostov regions have always been commercially very integrated, with most of Donbas Ukranians speaking Russian. Everyone must understand that most Russians could care less about Ukraine . This is Putin's war. The beautiful resort areas of Crimea were turned into rundown areas after 2014 according to a friend of my wife who vacationed in Crimea 4 years ago.

So you're denying that under Obama, Victoria Nuland and the US State Department orchestrated the Maidan Protests, which led to a Coup that overthrew a Democratically elected gov't in Ukraine.

This is before the Maidan revolution (coup) even occurred, and Nuland and Pyatt were discussing who would be installed in Ukraine. And Nuland states she would get Vice President Biden's approval for it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV9J6sxCs5k

[quote]So you're denying that under Obama, Victoria Nuland and the US State Department orchestrated the Maidan Protests, which led to a Coup in Ukraine.[/quote

It is a fact not a denial, Russian's are masters of truth distortion.
"The protests were sparked by President Viktor Yanukovych's sudden decision not to sign the European Union–Ukraine Association Agreement, instead choosing closer ties to Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union."