UK's Starmer declares 'coalition of the willing' for troop deployment to Ukraine
PM Keir Starmer has declared that the UK and France are prepared to spearhead a “coalition of the willing” aimed at offering military assistance to Kiev. Read Full Article at RT.com
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**France’s Macron Seeks Temporary Truce for Safe Troop Deployment**
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has declared that the UK and France are prepared to lead a "coalition of the willing" to support Ukraine with military assistance, including the potential deployment of troops and aircraft, in order to safeguard Kiev's positions after any peace agreement with Moscow.
During an emergency summit in London on Sunday, in response to Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky’s challenging visit to Washington, Starmer highlighted the urgent need for the European Union and other allies to take a proactive stance in supporting Ukraine. He acknowledged that some countries may not have resources to contribute but insisted that those willing should act swiftly.
"Not every nation will feel able to contribute, but that can’t mean that we sit back. Instead, those willing will intensify planning now with real urgency. The UK is prepared to back this with boots on the ground and planes in the air, together with others," Starmer told the press.
French President Emmanuel Macron indicated that Western troops would only be sent to the region when it is deemed safe. He suggested a temporary month-long "truce in the air, on the seas, and on energy infrastructure"—a proposal that Moscow has previously criticized as a Western tactic to support and rearm Ukraine.
“There will be no European troops on Ukrainian soil in the coming weeks,” Macron said in an interview with Le Figaro. “The question is how can we use this time to try to get a truce accessible, with negotiations that will take several weeks, and then, when the peace is signed, a deployment."
Moscow has consistently dismissed proposals for temporary ceasefires akin to the unsuccessful Minsk agreements, insisting on a lasting, legally binding resolution that addresses the fundamental issues of the conflict. The Minsk ceasefire, which was originally intended to halt hostilities between Ukraine and the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, was, in reality, just "an attempt to give Ukraine time" to strengthen its military capabilities, as former German Chancellor Angela Merkel acknowledged in 2022.
The summit saw the participation of various European leaders, including Starmer, Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, as well as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Trudeau did not rule out the possibility of deploying troops to Ukraine, stating that Ottawa "has looked at the ways it can best help, and as I've said a few days ago, everything’s on the table."
Conversely, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni emphasized that there is currently no concrete plan for troop deployment, asserting that "the presence of Italian troops in Ukraine has never been on the agenda."
Tusk observed that the leaders did not manage to present a systematic, shared stance on future security guarantees for Ukraine or "a concrete plan for negotiations" with Russia.
“We all get a sense at this moment that no one has a plan for it, and that sense of chaos, makeshift approach … sometimes sparks emotions like we have seen in that unseemly spectacle in Washington a few days ago, which we all would rather avoid,” Tusk said.
Moscow has been vocally opposed to the deployment of Western troops to Ukraine, warning that any such forces would be considered legitimate targets unless they have a UN mandate. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has characterized the push for troops, primarily endorsed by France and Britain, as an effort to "further fuel the conflict and stop any attempts to cool it down." The Russian Foreign Ministry also accused the EU and the UK of pursuing a course of "militarism."
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has declared that the UK and France are prepared to lead a "coalition of the willing" to support Ukraine with military assistance, including the potential deployment of troops and aircraft, in order to safeguard Kiev's positions after any peace agreement with Moscow.
During an emergency summit in London on Sunday, in response to Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky’s challenging visit to Washington, Starmer highlighted the urgent need for the European Union and other allies to take a proactive stance in supporting Ukraine. He acknowledged that some countries may not have resources to contribute but insisted that those willing should act swiftly.
"Not every nation will feel able to contribute, but that can’t mean that we sit back. Instead, those willing will intensify planning now with real urgency. The UK is prepared to back this with boots on the ground and planes in the air, together with others," Starmer told the press.
French President Emmanuel Macron indicated that Western troops would only be sent to the region when it is deemed safe. He suggested a temporary month-long "truce in the air, on the seas, and on energy infrastructure"—a proposal that Moscow has previously criticized as a Western tactic to support and rearm Ukraine.
“There will be no European troops on Ukrainian soil in the coming weeks,” Macron said in an interview with Le Figaro. “The question is how can we use this time to try to get a truce accessible, with negotiations that will take several weeks, and then, when the peace is signed, a deployment."
Moscow has consistently dismissed proposals for temporary ceasefires akin to the unsuccessful Minsk agreements, insisting on a lasting, legally binding resolution that addresses the fundamental issues of the conflict. The Minsk ceasefire, which was originally intended to halt hostilities between Ukraine and the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, was, in reality, just "an attempt to give Ukraine time" to strengthen its military capabilities, as former German Chancellor Angela Merkel acknowledged in 2022.
The summit saw the participation of various European leaders, including Starmer, Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, as well as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Trudeau did not rule out the possibility of deploying troops to Ukraine, stating that Ottawa "has looked at the ways it can best help, and as I've said a few days ago, everything’s on the table."
Conversely, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni emphasized that there is currently no concrete plan for troop deployment, asserting that "the presence of Italian troops in Ukraine has never been on the agenda."
Tusk observed that the leaders did not manage to present a systematic, shared stance on future security guarantees for Ukraine or "a concrete plan for negotiations" with Russia.
“We all get a sense at this moment that no one has a plan for it, and that sense of chaos, makeshift approach … sometimes sparks emotions like we have seen in that unseemly spectacle in Washington a few days ago, which we all would rather avoid,” Tusk said.
Moscow has been vocally opposed to the deployment of Western troops to Ukraine, warning that any such forces would be considered legitimate targets unless they have a UN mandate. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has characterized the push for troops, primarily endorsed by France and Britain, as an effort to "further fuel the conflict and stop any attempts to cool it down." The Russian Foreign Ministry also accused the EU and the UK of pursuing a course of "militarism."
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
