British troops could soon find themselves on the ground in Ukraine after Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Sunday that he was ready to send the military there to help guarantee Kyiv’s security as part of a peace deal.

He made the comments ahead of Monday’s emergency summit with European leaders in Paris following U.S. President Trump’s discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the war, now approaching its third year.

“We are facing a once-in-a-generation for the collective security of our continent. This is not only a question about the future of Ukraine, it is existential for Europe as a whole,” Mr. Starmer wrote in an article for the British newspaper The Telegraph.”Securing a lasting peace in Ukraine that safeguards the sovereignty for the long term is essential if we are to deter Putin from further aggression in the future.”

Last year, other members of the NATO alliance dismissed a suggestion from French President Emmanuel Macron that Western peacekeeping troops could be sent to Ukraine. The Kremlin warned that the move would mark a major escalation and could result in a direct conflict between Russia and NATO.

“I feel very deeply the responsibility that comes with potentially putting British servicemen and women in harm’s way. But, any role in helping guarantee Ukraine’s security is helping to guarantee the security of our continent and the security of this country,” Mr. Starmer wrote. 

Mr. Starmer said the end of fighting in Ukraine cannot be merely a temporary pause before Russia launches further attacks. Even if Europe takes on a greater role in Ukraine, U.S. support will be essential to secure any lasting peace in the region.

“Only the U.S. can deter Putin from attacking again. So I will be meeting President Trump in the coming days and working with him and all our G7 partners to help secure the strong deal we need,” Mr. Starmer wrote.

• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.