The United Kingdom is set to “accelerate the pace and scale” of military planning to support Ukraine, with officials indicating that all options, including deploying troops, remain on the table.
A spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that thousands of troops could be required if a ceasefire agreement is reached between Ukraine and Russia. These forces may be deployed by “sea, on land or in the air” to help uphold any peace deal.
“We will continue to accelerate the pace and scale of operational planning with further meetings at our Northwood headquarters as we look closer at the detail and structure of any future force.”
Keir Starmer’s spokesperson
The strategy under discussion includes evaluating force structures and determining the best capabilities to counter the specific threats faced by Ukraine. The UK, alongside allied nations, is also considering reallocating troops from other deployments to support Ukraine while allowing forces from partner nations to fill those existing roles elsewhere.
The extensive military deliberations are expected to take place over three days next week, culminating in a summit in Paris on Thursday, March 27. French President Emmanuel Macron will host the meeting, which will bring together leaders from the “coalition of the willing” — a group of nations dedicated to supporting Ukraine in the ongoing conflict.
The discussions will explore various scenarios for troop deployment across land, air, and sea to uphold a peace settlement, should one be brokered. Officials stressed that the coalition’s efforts aim to “safeguard any peace deal” and provide Ukraine with necessary security guarantees.
On Thursday, Starmer met with senior officers from 31 allied nations involved in military planning. Among the countries represented were France, Poland, the Netherlands, Romania, Canada, and Australia. Following the meeting, the prime minister reiterated that Russian President Vladimir Putin would face “severe consequences” should he violate any ceasefire agreements.
When questioned about whether discussions had moved away from the prospect of ground troops in Ukraine, a No 10 spokesperson dismissed such claims.
“No, nothing is off the table on any of these fronts, so I wouldn’t start ruling anything out. Clearly, thousands of troops will be required to support any deployment, whether that is at sea, on land or in the air.”
Keir Starmer’s spokesperson
Sources reported that the UK is prioritizing land and sea-based military support, with Starmer stressing that Ukraine already possesses the necessary manpower and combat experience. However, operational planning is still required to finalize logistics, troop movements, and deployment rotations.
Intensified Diplomatic Pressure on Moscow
At the same time, diplomatic efforts are continuing on multiple fronts. Representatives from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States are scheduled to convene in Saudi Arabia on Monday for further peace negotiations. Meanwhile, European and Commonwealth allies are ramping up pressure on the Kremlin as Putin remains reluctant to fully accept a US- and Ukraine-backed settlement.
Moscow has tentatively agreed to halt attacks on Ukrainian power plants following a phone call between Putin and US President Donald Trump. However, Ukrainian officials have reported continued strikes on civilian targets, including hospitals, despite the supposed agreement.
In a separate diplomatic engagement, Starmer is expected to join discussions with non-EU nations and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday. These talks will focus on recent developments within the European Union regarding Ukraine and the broader security situation in the region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains optimistic that “a lasting peace can be achieved this year.” He expressed hope following a phone conversation with Trump on Tuesday, though he firmly rejected a proposal that would see the US take ownership of Ukrainian power plants as a security measure.
With military planning intensifying and diplomatic pressure mounting, the coming weeks are expected to be pivotal in determining the next phase of international support for Ukraine.
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