Title: “Keir Starmer Asks His Party to Consider Sending Troops to Ukraine.”
In this article published by The New York Times in February 2025, the focus is on Keir Starmer, the leader of the United Kingdom’s Labour Party, who is calling for his party to consider sending troops to Ukraine in response to Russia’s invasion. The article highlights Starmer’s recent movements by summarizing the events that led to this decision.
Firstly, the article explains that Starmer visited Poland earlier this month to show support for the country amid the refugee crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. During that trip, Starmer had promised to address the debate of sending troops to Ukraine in light of the UK’s history with sending troops abroad. Now, as he prepares to make a statement to the House of Commons, The Times reports that Starmer will now call on his party to consider the idea of the UK sending troops to Ukraine, ending months of ambiguity when it comes to this issue.
Starmer’s latest stance deviates from the position Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who belongs to the Scottish National Party, has taken. Sturgeon disagrees with sending troops, calling instead for more economic sanctions. However, as the article mentions, if Starmer chooses to back direct and military involvement, it could potentially shake up the political landscape in the UK. He is currently experiencing a boost in popularity, with recent polls showing that if elections went ahead, Labour would form the government under Starmer’s leadership for the first time since 2010.
However, as experts have stated, Starmer’s call for troops comes at a time when the British public is reluctant to see a significant military entanglement with Ukraine. Only 15 percent of those polled in a recent YouGov survey expressed support for deploying British soldiers to Ukraine, whereas 55 percent said that they do not want the military to be involved. A study from King’s College in London in November also found that public support for military intervention in Ukraine does not match calls from the political and military elite for greater action.
In the article, The Times notes that the Labour leader’s planned statement comes after reports emerged from Whitehall officials who revealed that Boris Johnson’s government is preparing for the possibility of President Vladimir Putin’s forces seizing key cities in Ukraine. Moreover, the officials pointed out that the UK could play a greater NATO role in the war effort while also stepping up training for Ukrainian troops.
Consequently, Starmer’s call for troops is likely part of a broader effort to demonstrate Labour’s preparedness to govern, which is likely to play a significant part in the election race. As the article concludes, Starmer’s stance could potentially put him in a tête-à-tête with Liz Truss, the Foreign Secretary, and Johnson, who are both seen as favouring a more interventionist foreign policy. Starmer’s call could potentially intensify the political debate, dividing Labour and possibly affecting the outcomes of the upcoming general election, which could take place later this year.
In summary, the article highlights Keir Starmer’s recent decision to call for the consideration of sending troops to Ukraine as a means of demonstrating Labour’s preparedness to govern, distinguishing the Labour Party from other opposition parties, such as the Scottish National Party. However, the article also notes that the British public is hesitant about direct military involvement in Ukraine, and the YouGov polls indicate that only 15 percent of those polled express support for deploying British soldiers to Ukraine. The article finishes by stating that Starmer’s stance could potentially have significant political implications, especially regarding the upcoming general election and the already-divided political landscape in the UK.
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