The UK has pledged to send troops to Ukraine as part of a reassurance force once a peace agreement is struck with Russia, though President Donald Trump has firmly ruled out committing American soldiers to the same mission.
The commitment followed a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, bringing together over 30 international leaders in what was described as a “coalition of the willing.” The talks focused on drafting plans to coordinate with US officials on security guarantees designed to deter any future Russian aggression against Ukraine.
The online summit on Tuesday built upon earlier discussions in Washington, where Starmer, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and President Trump met to discuss the way forward. Among the key issues were stronger sanctions on Moscow, tightening pressure on Vladimir Putin to end the war that has stretched into its third year. Yet doubts linger over Russia’s true intentions. Just hours after the Washington talks, Moscow unleashed its most intense aerial assault in a month, firing 270 drones and 10 missiles into central Ukraine.
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While President Trump is advocating for the first direct meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents in six years, Kyiv swiftly rejected Moscow as a proposed venue. European leaders are now pressing to finalize the shape of potential US security guarantees. Trump has signaled support for measures such as air support, but dismissed both NATO membership for Ukraine and the possibility of American boots on the ground.
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s envoy, hinted that Washington could consider guarantees resembling NATO’s Article 5 commitment – an attack on one is considered an attack on all – without granting Ukraine full NATO membership. Zelensky hailed these discussions as “a major step forward,” noting that formal agreements could be signed within “the next week to 10 days.”
Following Tuesday’s virtual meeting, Downing Street confirmed that planning teams from the coalition of the willing would “meet with their US counterparts in the coming days to further strengthen plans to deliver robust security guarantees and prepare for the deployment of a reassurance force if the hostilities ended.”
The UK, alongside France, has promised to contribute forces to Ukraine once peace terms are in place, to deter Putin from reigniting hostilities. According to a Downing Street spokesperson, Starmer told fellow European leaders that the Washington discussions reflected a “real sense of unity” and underscored a “shared goal of securing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.”
“The leaders also discussed how further pressure – including through sanctions – could be placed on Putin until he showed he was ready to take serious action to end his illegal invasion.”
Downing Street spokesperson
Starmer described recent developments as a “real significant breakthrough” in efforts to end the war. Speaking about the talks, he said he was “very pleased” with progress on security guarantees, stressing that such commitments would “reassure people in Europe, in Ukraine, but particularly in the United Kingdom.”
Britain’s Chief of Defence Staff, Sir Tony Radakin, was reported to be traveling to Washington immediately after the meeting to consult US officials on the specifics of the planned security framework.
Meanwhile, Switzerland has offered to host future peace negotiations. Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis indicated that Putin would be granted immunity from arrest if he attended talks, despite facing an International Criminal Court warrant since 2023 for alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Cassis explained that Switzerland was “ready for such a meeting” and would not detain Putin if his visit was strictly for a “peace conference.”
French President Emmanuel Macron also weighed in, saying European leaders had successfully influenced Trump’s stance on the Ukraine conflict, a signal that Washington may be adjusting its approach under growing European pressure.
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