UK officials say that around 20 countries are interested in joining a “coalition of the willing” to support Ukraine. The coalition, led by the UK and France, may not send troops but could offer other types of assistance. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer outlined the plan during a summit with European and Canadian leaders. The idea is to back any ceasefire in Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Sir Keir stressed that waiting for a deal between Ukraine and Russia isn’t enough. He warned that it would be a mistake to assume that everything will simply be resolved, and he added that any agreement must be defended to keep Ukraine in a strong position. He also said that the defence plan should be made together with the United States and European partners, emphasizing the importance of their close collaboration.
A meeting of officials was held on Tuesday to discuss providing security guarantees following any peace deal. Although it is still early, British officials welcomed the interest expressed by these countries as a positive sign.
In related developments, the UK recently announced a £1.6bn missile deal for Ukraine and signed another deal with an Anglo-American security firm, Anduril, to supply advanced attack drones. Defence Secretary John Healey also held talks with his US counterpart in Washington, where the importance of increased defence spending and European leadership in NATO was stressed.
Elsewhere, the Ministry of Defence confirmed another security deal worth nearly £30m, backed by the International Fund for Ukraine. This deal will supply Kyiv with advanced systems designed to monitor and strike targets in the Black Sea.
At the same time, European leaders are taking steps to protect the continent. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed an 800 billion euro defence package and described the situation as a “clear and present danger.” She said that Europe must be able to defend itself and support Ukraine to secure a lasting peace.
Turkey, Ireland, and Australia have also signaled that they could take part in peacekeeping efforts. However, Russian officials have rejected these moves. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that such a coalition would mean the direct involvement of NATO members in the conflict, and a Russian spokesperson stated that any ceasefire would be unacceptable without a final settlement.
