More than 30 countries ready to play part in ‘coalition of the willing’ – No 10
A ‘significant number’ of countries will provide troops on the ground, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters.
More than 30 countries now stand ready to enforce a peace deal in Ukraine as part of the “coalition of the willing”, Downing Street has said.
A “significant number” of countries will provide troops on the ground, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters, while others are ready to contribute logistics and background support.
Details about those who have volunteered to join the “coalition of the willing” came to light after Sir Keir Starmer hosted a weekend phone call with international leaders.
Military chiefs will meet on Thursday to discuss the next steps towards operational planning for the coalition, which would aim to deter future Russian aggression in the event a peace agreement is reached.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman told reporters on Monday: “The Prime Minister said over the weekend, there’s going to be different capabilities from different countries, but these are now the operational discussions that are ongoing in relation to what the coalition of the willing will be able to provide.
“We’re expecting more than 30 countries to be involved.
“Obviously the contribution capabilities will vary, but this will be a significant force, with a significant number of countries providing troops and a larger group contributing in other ways.”
Donald Trump is expected to speak to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, as the US president continues his attempts to broker a peace in Ukraine.
The call, announced by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, comes as Mr Putin continues to resist an American-backed proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine.
Although Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has accepted the proposed unconditional ceasefire, the Russian president has said Ukraine must agree to give up its ambitions of joining Nato and cede territory to Russia before any pause in hostilities.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said Sir Keir still believed a US security guarantee was necessary for the European-led peacekeeping plan to operate successfully.
He added: “The PM has said for the coalition of the willing, for UK troops to be deployed, it must be in the context of a secure and lasting peace with US backing being needed, but as I said, those discussions are ongoing, and part of the discussions that he had with President Trump at the White House.”
Asked if UK peacekeeping troops would be allowed to fire back at Russian soldiers, the spokesman said this would be “getting ahead” of planning conversations.
He added: “But it is worth remembering that Russia didn’t ask Ukraine when it deployed North Korean troops to the front line last year, but we’ve got the operational planning meetings that are going to go through the details.”
The UK and France have been at the forefront of discussions with nations who would be willing to defend a peace deal in some way.
Following a virtual meeting on Saturday with the leaders of 26 other nations, plus representatives from the EU and Nato, the Prime Minister said there had been “new commitments” offered and planning would now move into an “operational phase”.
But it remains unclear which nations have committed troops to a peacekeeping operation, while several have suggested such talks are premature given the lack of a ceasefire.
Mr Putin is also likely to object to any agreement that involves European or Nato troops being stationed in Ukraine, although Mr Zelensky sees this as essential to deterring future Russian aggression.
