ANTI-WAR campaigners today rejected “complete rubbish” from Sir Keir Starmer as he demanded further European militarisation.

Speaking ahead of an emergency summit in Paris, the Prime Minister said he would be urging European leaders “to step up” in replacing US military support for Ukraine, including by potentially deploying troops following a ceasefire.

The summit was hastily called over the weekend as the United States meets with Russia to discuss a possible ceasefire deal and European leaders scramble for strategy following the US U-turn on Ukraine. The US invited neither Ukraine nor any western European ally to join its talks with Russia on a settlement. 

“We’re facing a generational challenge when it comes to national security,” Sir Keir told reporters in Bristol before his trip.

“We must continue to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position whatever happens next, and to make sure that if there is peace, and we all want peace, that it is lasting.”

Sir Keir, who is due to visit US President Donald Trump in Washington later this month, claimed the US aim of “lasting peace” in Ukraine “aligns precisely” with that of Britain and the EU.

He also confirmed that Britain is prepared to deploy troops to Ukraine post-war, though the US has made it clear no such mission would be covered by Nato’s mutual defence clause.

“We need to step up in terms of our collective response in Europe,” he said.

“That means capability, playing our full part in defending Ukraine’s sovereignty if there’s a peace agreement, and committing to funding and training.”

He also reiterated his support for Ukraine’s “irreversible” path to Nato membership — contradicting the US, which has ruled this out — and stressed that Kiev must be included in peace negotiations.

Former army chief Lord Richard Dannatt says that Britain lacks the forces and equipment to police Ukraine and that putting boots on the ground in Ukraine would come at a “considerable cost.”

Stop the War Coalition convener Lindsey German said that Sir Keir’s stance should be opposed “very strongly,” describing it as an attempt to “save face.”

Speaking to BBC Radio 2, Ms German said: “The government has been totally blindsided by what Trump has done in calling for these talks with Russia.

“Everybody could see this coming, but somehow the British government and other European governments just ignored it and pretended it wasn't happening.

“Everybody knew that the war was being lost in Ukraine, and shouldn’t be continued, and there should be a settlement. We said this three years ago.”

Ms German criticised Sir Keir’s suggestion of sending troops as part of a peacekeeping force, noting that even Poland, which borders Ukraine, had ruled it out.

She also rejected claims that Europe’s security is at risk, saying: “I think it’s complete rubbish to tell the truth.

“The idea that Russia is about to invade across the European continent is simply fantastic. It isn’t going to happen. Russia has an economy the same size as Spain.

“[Russian President Vladimir] Putin is an aggressor against Ukraine. There’s no question. I opposed the Russian invasion back when it happened three years ago. But this is not a threat to the whole of Europe.”

She warned that the real threat to Europe was greater instability caused by increased militarisation and the rise of the far right.

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament general secretary Sophie Bolt said: “It is absolutely critical that the Ukraine war is brought to an end.

“Starmer’s continuing to peddle the dangerous myth that Ukraine will gain Nato membership — and that such membership offers the best security against Russia.

“On the contrary, pushing Nato membership for Ukraine has been a key driver of this conflict and has increased the threat of nuclear war.

“Continuing to do so now will only worsen tensions at a time when a negotiated settlement could be achieved.”

Ms Bolt said that a settlement can only be the first step in reducing tensions in the region, adding: “Central to this must also be the withdrawal of both US nuclear weapons from Europe and Russian ones from Belarus.”

The gathering in Paris comes as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is leading a delegation to Saudi Arabia tomorrow for talks with Russian officials.

The US State Department said today that the meeting will be a “first step” towards seeing whether Moscow is serious about talks to end the war in Ukraine, but will not amount to the start of negotiations.

“This is a follow-up on that initial conversation between Putin and President Trump about perhaps if that first step is even possible,” spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said.

Ukraine will not accept the outcome of talkks if Kiev is not involved, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today.

Mr Zelensky was travelling to Saudi Arabia this week but said that the visit was unrelated to the planned talks.

Shortly before the Paris meeting, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Mr Trump, but Mr Macron’s office would not disclose details.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said earlier today that there was a need for a “strong Ukrainian army” when asked whether German troops could be deployed for a potential future peace mission in Ukraine.

Not all European leaders supported the gathering, with most Nordic nations not attending.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto accused the leaders of “gathering to prevent a peace agreement in Ukraine.”

He said that they have been “continuously adding fuel to the fire,” calling them “pro-war, anti-Trump, frustrated European leaders.”