LONDON – U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the valor of British troops who laid down their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq, a statement perceived as a subtle disapproval of U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s remarks. Vance had expressed skepticism regarding the effectiveness of a proposed European peacekeeping force in Ukraine, should a peace agreement be reached between Ukraine and Russia.
Opening the weekly parliamentary question session, Starmer honored six British soldiers killed in an explosive attack while on patrol in Afghanistan, coinciding with the 13th anniversary of their death. “These men fought and died for their country, our country,” Starmer affirmed, noting that 642 British soldiers perished in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, aligning with allies, while many more suffered injuries.
While not directly mentioning Vance, Starmer declared that the courage and sacrifices of these individuals shall not be forgotten by him or other lawmakers. Vance, in a recent Fox News interview, critiqued the security assurance suggested for Ukraine, favoring an economic alliance over deploying “20,000 troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years.” His “random country” remark, though he did not pinpoint any specific nation, drew significant ire in the U.K. and France.
As the conversation turned toward European peacekeeping efforts, British forces were acknowledged for their role alongside U.S. troops post-9/11, while French forces participated in Afghanistan though not during the Iraq conflict. Starmer, like French President Emmanuel Macron, expressed readiness to contribute troops to a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, contingent upon additional U.S. support.
Despite offers from the U.K. and France, no other nations have yet committed to contributing forces to such a mission. Meanwhile, Trump has not provided a U.S. security guarantee, instead advocating for an economic alliance with Ukraine to counter future aggression from Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, eschewing military involvement.
President Trump’s address to Congress hinted at a more conciliatory stance towards Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, following a tense meeting at the White House. Although both leaders were expected to formalize a minerals agreement aimed partly at reimbursing the U.S. for wartime aid to Ukraine, the deal stalled as the meeting ended unexpectedly.
Starmer assured that he is striving to ensure collaboration between the U.S. and Europe for enduring peace in Ukraine. In this context, Vance’s earlier Fox News comments were aired just before a White House announcement that Trump temporarily halted U.S. support to Ukraine, urging Zelenskyy to pursue negotiation talks to resolve the conflict initiated by Russia in February 2022.
