Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that Britain has moved into the “operational phase” of its plans to deploy a peacekeeping force in Ukraine.
As the UK prepares to host military leaders from key Western allies, the effort signals a decisive step towards supporting a ceasefire agreement with boots on the ground.“We won’t sit back and wait for Putin to act,” Starmer declared, stressing that allied nations would be prepared to “help secure Ukraine on the land, at sea and in the sky.”
His remarks underscore a growing momentum within the so-called “coalition of the willing” — a group of nations committed to reinforcing Ukraine’s security and stability.
The high-level military discussions, scheduled for Thursday, March 20, will aim to finalize “strong and robust plans … to swing in behind a peace deal and guarantee Ukraine’s future security,” Starmer confirmed in a statement from Downing Street.
The British Prime Minister also urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to accept peace terms, while making a clear distinction between President Donald Trump’s diplomatic efforts and the Kremlin’s delaying tactics.
Despite Trump’s assertion that he had held “good and productive” discussions with Russia, Starmer accused Putin of deliberately stalling negotiations.“Sooner or later, Putin will have to come to the table,” Starmer insisted.
“This is the moment. Let the guns fall silent, let the barbaric attacks on Ukraine, once and for all, stop, and agree to a ceasefire now.”
Keir Starmer
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russia is planning a renewed ground offensive in eastern Ukraine. In a post on X, he stated that a “ceasefire could have already happened, but Russia is doing everything to prevent it.”
As part of Britain’s broader strategy, Starmer also announced new commitments to tightening sanctions on Russia, emphasizing that “Russia’s appetite for conflict and chaos undermines our security back here at home.”
His address followed a virtual summit with 26 world leaders, including Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. According to Starmer, the group has expanded, demonstrating “a stronger collective resolve and new commitments on the table.”
“So, more commitments on the table this morning and an agreement that we now move to the operational phase, which is why the talks on Thursday, the military talks, will become the next focal point.”
Keir Starmer
Unanswered Questions on Peacekeeping Force
Despite these developments, key questions remain unanswered. Uncertainty looms over which countries have pledged concrete support for a peacekeeping force, its expected size, and whether it will operate within a clear legal framework under international law.
When asked about the role such a force might play, Starmer indicated that this would be determined in Thursday’s discussions.
“There are different capabilities from different countries, but those are the operational discussions that are going on in relation to what this coalition of the willing will be able to provide.”
Keir Starmer
Among the world leaders who participated in the virtual summit was Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who had reportedly considered skipping the meeting due to skepticism over Anglo-French peacekeeping proposals.
In addition to European powers, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand also joined the talks, signaling a widening international effort.
The virtual summit followed a week of intense diplomatic maneuvering, during which the U.S. proposed a 30-day unconditional ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. However, the Kremlin has so far refused to accept the terms, instead demanding that Ukraine renounce its NATO ambitions and cede parts of its territory to Russia.
As tensions mount, all eyes are now on the upcoming military discussions, which could shape the future of peacekeeping efforts in Ukraine and the broader European security landscape.
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