Key points
- UK expects “more than 30 countries” to contribute to the coalition
- Starmer and Macron say group is necessary to provide Ukraine with security guarantees
- Trump has opened direct talks with Russia to end the war in Ukraine
LONDON: The UK government has said that a “significant number” of countries would provide troops to protect any ceasefire in Ukraine as part of a so-called coalition of the willing.
AFP reported that Britain expects “more than 30 countries” to contribute to the group in some form, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesman told reporters.
“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 willing will be able to provide,” the spokesman added.
“A significant force”
“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,” he said.
Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have been leading efforts to establish the coalition since US President Donald Trump opened direct negotiations with Russia last month to end the war, AFP reported.
They say the group is necessary — along with US support — to provide Ukraine with security guarantees and deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from violating any ceasefire, western media reported.
Starmer and Macron have said they are willing to put British and French troops on the ground in Ukraine, but it is not clear how many other countries are keen on doing the same, AFP reported.
Virtual call
The British premier told a virtual call of around 26 fellow leaders and the heads of the European Union and NATO on Saturday that the plan would now move into an “operational phase”.
Dozens of military chiefs are due to meet in the UK on Thursday to take those discussions forward, according to western media reports.
Starmer has said he welcomes any offer of support for the coalition, raising the prospect that some countries could contribute logistics or surveillance, AFP reported.
His spokesman on Monday highlighted engineering support, the use of airfields and the housing of crews as areas where contributions could be made.
