The British Army has said it is ready to deploy to Ukraine if requested by the government. This week, 2,500 UK troops from the Army's high readiness force, the First Division, have been taking part in a large Nato exercise in Romania - on a training area just 16 miles (25km) from the border with Ukraine.

So when Keir Starmer on Monday pledged British peacekeeping troops to support any future Ukraine-Russia peace deal, it will have come as no great surprise to the U.K.'s allies — particularly as U.S. President Donald Trump pushes Europe to take on a much greater role in Ukraine’s security.

However, the US factor plays a significant role in shaping these opinions,” he said, adding that that Erdogan supports Ukraine's future membership in the alliance. “If (Ukraine's accession to) NATO is not an option,

Russia on Tuesday opposed the presence of troops from North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO countries in Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed the idea that NATO member forces could act as peacekeepers under any ceasefire agreement,