UK and France call for US ‘backstop’ in Ukraine peacekeeping efforts
The United States must work closely with the UK and Europe to secure a lasting peace in Ukraine, a senior Cabinet minister has warned ahead of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s visit to Washington.
With the transatlantic alliance strained by Donald Trump’s approach to the conflict, there is growing pressure for Western nations to coordinate efforts to ensure Ukraine’s security and sovereignty.
Both France and the UK believe that a US security ‘backstop’, combined with European peacekeeping troops, will be essential for maintaining any peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
Trump’s position raises concerns
Donald Trump’s stance on the war in Ukraine has caused significant unease among European leaders. The US president has opened direct talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, has branded Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator”, and has suggested that Kyiv’s forces bear responsibility for the conflict.
His position has sparked fears that the US could weaken its commitment to Ukraine, leaving European nations to shoulder more of the burden in securing peace.
Sir Keir’s visit to the White House this week comes shortly after French President Emmanuel Macron’s talks with Mr Trump. European leaders are making urgent efforts to influence the US president’s view on Ukraine’s future and ensure continued Western unity.
France and UK propose peacekeeping force
Mr Macron has suggested that a truce between Russia and Ukraine could be possible within weeks, creating a window for detailed peace negotiations.
He revealed that France and the UK had worked together on a joint peacekeeping proposal, which would see European troops deployed to Ukraine—but only if the US also provides security guarantees.
Speaking to Fox News, Mr Macron outlined the plan:
“We worked very hard together with the UK prime minister to have a French-UK proposal to say we are ready to send troops—not to go to the front line, not to go into confrontation—but to be in specific locations, defined by the treaty, as a presence to maintain this peace and our collective credibility, with the US backup and the US backstop.”
UK calls for US-UK-European cooperation
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has emphasised the importance of a unified Western approach, stating that Sir Keir’s discussions with President Trump would focus on securing a lasting peace.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, she said:
“This is a very important stage in the discussions. What we need to achieve is a lasting peace for Ukraine. And that has to mean Ukraine is at the heart of this. You cannot have talks about Ukraine without Ukraine.”
She also stressed that the UK, Europe, and the US must work together to provide Ukraine with the necessary security guarantees.
“We know that means European countries need to do more, but we also need the security backstop with the US.”
Ukraine’s resources could secure US commitment
One potential way to bind Washington to Kyiv is through a proposed agreement granting the US access to Ukraine’s mineral resources. This economic incentive could help maintain American support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and long-term security.
Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has suggested that the latest version of the deal is promising, stating that the US would only benefit from it if Ukraine remains “free, sovereign, and secure.”
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Speaking to LBC, Mr Johnson explained:
“There’s no way America is going to get its hands on any proceeds from Ukrainian minerals until there is a free, sovereign, and secure Ukraine. That is a massive, massive prize, and I think, worth going for.”
He also noted that Ukrainian negotiators had “kept their cool” during discussions with Mr Trump, even after the US president initially rejected a deal and ratcheted up his rhetoric against Kyiv.
“The deal is about Mr Trump needing to show the wackos who seem to support Putin … that he’s got something in exchange for American support and long-term American support for Ukraine.”
A critical moment for Western unity
Sir Keir’s visit to Washington marks a crucial moment in shaping the Western response to the Ukraine crisis. With Europe seeking to maintain stability and the US taking an unpredictable approach under Trump, the next few weeks could prove pivotal in determining the future of the conflict.
If the UK, France, and the US can find common ground, a credible peace deal backed by military and economic guarantees could help end the war and secure Ukraine’s independence. However, if Trump continues to distance the US from the conflict, European nations may be forced to take on a greater role in Ukraine’s defence—with or without American support.
