US ‘backstop’ vital to deter future Russian attacks on Ukraine, says Starmer

<p>British prime minister says force would need protections such as air cover that only US can provide </p><p>Keir Starmer has urged Donald Trump to provide a US “backstop” to a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine, saying it is the only way to deter Russia from attacking the country again.</p><p>The UK prime minister’s appeal to Trump came after an emergency summit in Paris that heard widespread calls by European leaders for a large boost in defence spending.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/17/starmer-urges-trump-to-provide-backstop-to-european-peacekeeping-force-in-ukraine">Continue reading...</a>