Likelihood of UK soldiers going to Ukraine increases with Donald Trump mentioning that Vladimir Putin supports a Nato peace mission

The possibility of UK soldiers being sent to Ukraine came closer to reality recently following a warning from Donald Trump about the potential of the conflict spiraling into a global conflict.

Previously, the Kremlin has insisted no personnel from Nato member states could join a post-peace deal stabilisation force. 

On the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, President Trump, speaking from the White House after discussions with French president Emmanuel Macron, revealed, ‘I specifically asked him [Vladimir Putin] that question. He has no problem with it.’

Should Russia confirm this development, it would mark the first significant gesture from the Kremlin since the start of negotiations and indicate Putin’s commitment towards resolving the ongoing war.

It would also pave the way for a significant UK contribution, alongside France – but not the United States – to a multinational force in Ukraine. 

Military experts have suggested the British force could be as large as 15,000 personnel and would include RAF jets and a Royal Navy force in the Black Sea, as well as ground troops. 

Such a commitment would cost billions annually and require an increase in UK defence spending. 

Mr Macron said peace ‘must not mean a surrender of Ukraine, or ceasefire without guarantees’, adding: ‘It must allow for Ukrainian sovereignty and allow Ukraine to negotiate with other stakeholders regarding the issues that affects it.’ 

Military experts have suggested the British force in Ukraine could be as large as 15,000 personnel and would include RAF jets and a Royal Navy force

Donald Trump with French President Emmanuel Macron. Mr Trump suggested that Vladimir Putin had told him he had ‘no problem’ with a post-peace deal stabilisation force

Speaking during Mr Macron’s visit, Mr Trump said the war could end within weeks ‘if we’re smart’, but that there was a risk it could escalate into a Third World War if it was allowed to keep going

Mr Trump said the negotiations with Putin were ongoing, adding ‘My whole life is deals, that’s all I know’. 

He said: ‘I really believe that he wants to make a deal. I may be wrong, but I believe that he wants to make a deal.’ 

Meanwhile, Putin has said he is ready to collaborate with the US on rare earth metals production. He told state TV that a US-Ukraine deal involving the minerals was not a concern. 

It came as the US made history at the United Nations by voting with Russia and North Korea and against its allies. The US voted against a UN resolution proposed by Britain demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine and calling Russia an ‘aggressor’. 

The resolution received 93 votes in favour, with the United Kingdom and most European nations supporting it. Eighteen countries opposed it. 

Speaking in the Oval Office during Mr Macron’s visit, Mr Trump said: ‘I think the war [in Ukraine] could end soon, within weeks, if we’re smart. If we’re not smart, it will keep going. We don’t want that. Remember what I said – this could escalate into a Third World War and we don’t want that either.’ 

Mr Trump reiterated that he intended to meet Putin for talks on Ukraine but added: ‘I don’t know when we’ll speak. At some point I’ll be meeting [him].’ 

Mr Macron also said there was ‘good reason’ to re-engage with Putin. ‘Being strong and having deterrence capacities is the only way to be sure it [an agreement] will be respected,’ he added. ‘I believe that the US has the capacity to do so.’ 

Before speaking to President Trump, Mr Macron spoke to Keir Starmer to coordinate European diplomatic efforts. The French president said Europe was willing to ‘step up’ on defence. 

Sir Keir, who is due to visit the White House on Thursday, came under mounting pressure last night to prevent a ‘dirty deal’ between the US President and Putin – and to finally increase UK defence spending. 

Members of NATO’s Allied Reaction Force (ARF) take part in Exercise Steadfast Dart 25 in a Romanian camp on February 19

Mr Trump reiterated that he would at ‘some point’ meet Vladimir Putin for talks on Ukraine

Last week, Mr Trump stunned allies when he described Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky as ‘a dictator’. 

When asked yesterday if he would characterise Putin similarly, Mr Trump declined, saying: ‘I don’t use those words lightly, we’ll see how it all works out.’ 

Mr Zelensky is expected to visit Washington ‘this week or next’, according to Mr Trump, to sign a deal over US access to Ukrainian minerals. The agreement is expected to be tied to long-term security guarantees from the US. 

Mr Trump and his team have been negotiating the deal with Ukraine to recoup some of the money the Biden administration sent to Kyiv in the form of weapons to repel Russia. 

Mr Zelensky last week rejected US demands for $500 billion (£396 million) in mineral wealth, saying the US had supplied nowhere near that sum and offered no specific security guarantees. 

But these issues have apparently been overcome. Mr Zelensky yesterday proposed an exchange of all prisoners of war with Russia as the ‘start’ of a process on ending the conflict. 

Sir Keir remotely attended a meeting in Kyiv of heads of government who have supported Ukraine. 

In his speech, the Prime Minister claimed Russia ‘does not hold all the cards in the war’. 

Former prime minister Boris Johnson called out Mr Trump’s ‘big, fat, steaming lies’ but added there was method in the President’s madness

Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured) is expected to visit Washington ‘this week or next’, according to Mr Trump, to sign a deal over US access to Ukrainian minerals

He added: ‘This is a time for unity. In this crucial moment as talks begin we must work together to shape the outcome.’ 

Former prime minister Boris Johnson called out Mr Trump’s ‘big, fat, steaming lies’ over Ukraine but said there was ‘method in [his] madness’. 

He said: ‘You know how ugly and unpleasant it is, to hear some of the misrepresentations that have come out of Washington the last ten days or so, really peddling the Kremlin line. 

‘But I remain optimistic nonetheless, that there is method in Donald Trump’s madness, and actually that by shaking things up in the way that he is, he can continue to drive the process of peace in Ukraine.’