The UK is set to host a major meeting of military chiefs from Western nations to discuss plans for deploying a peacekeeping force in Ukraine, as efforts to end the war with Russia move into an “operational phase”.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed that Britain and its allies are prepared to “secure Ukraine on land, at sea, and in the sky” once a ceasefire is agreed. Speaking from Downing Street, Sir Keir declared, “We won’t sit back and wait for Putin to act,” vowing to “keep pushing forward” with plans to guarantee Ukraine’s future security.
The meeting, scheduled for Thursday, will bring together military leaders from 30 nations, including key European allies, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, as well as NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
Their focus will be on developing “strong and robust plans” to support a ceasefire and prevent future Russian aggression.
This move comes amid growing international pressure on Vladimir Putin to accept peace proposals.
However, Russia has so far resisted a US-Ukraine-backed proposal for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, instead demanding that Ukraine abandon its NATO ambitions and surrender some of its territory.
Sir Keir urged Putin to end the violence, saying, “Let the guns fall silent, let the barbaric attacks on Ukraine stop once and for all, and agree to a ceasefire now.”
The UK’s push for peacekeeping efforts aims to establish a “coalition of the willing” that would deploy forces to maintain stability in Ukraine and protect its borders.
However, key questions remain over which countries will commit troops and how the operation will be structured under international law.
While some European nations have expressed hesitation, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who was initially sceptical of the Anglo-French proposals, there is growing support for the initiative.
Sir Keir revealed that new commitments were made during a virtual meeting with world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The prime minister acknowledged the complexity of the mission but stressed the importance of taking action. “We cannot sit back and wait for peace to happen. We must be ready to act when the moment comes,” he said.
Meanwhile, former Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, who now opposes Putin, suggested that the Kremlin may accept peacekeepers from “neutral” nations such as India and Brazil, rather than NATO or European forces.
The Liberal Democrats have urged the UK government to seize Russian assets and use them to fund further support for Ukraine. However, Sir Keir admitted this is a “complicated issue” that requires further legal discussions.
The upcoming military talks are seen as a critical step towards preparing for a lasting peace agreement and deterring future Russian aggression. However, with drone attacks continuing on both sides overnight, the road to peace remains uncertain.
