…Says Ukraine’s allies must turn ‘political intention into reality’
UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer has insisted his “coalition of the willing” should turn political momentum into “military plans” ahead of a meeting on Ukraine today (Thursday).
Speaking to Sky News, he said: “We’ve seen important talks between the US and Russia just a few days ago, more talks on Sunday.
“That’s why it’s important today that we’re turning the political momentum that we had at the weekend in the meeting that I convened of nearly 30 political leaders… into military plans.
“Those plans are focusing on keeping the skies safe, the seas safe, the borders safe and secure in Ukraine.
“We’re working at pace because we don’t know if there will be a deal, I certainly hope there will be.
“But if there’s a deal, that we’re able to react straight away.”
He says he wants to turn “political intention into reality” and “concepts into plans” in regard to how the UK and its allies can aid Ukraine following any potential peace deal.
“None of this is taken as a given,” he adds. “We hope there will be a deal. But what I do know is that if there is a deal, that the time for planning is now. It’s not after a deal is reached.”
Starmer says he is clear that any deal “will only leave Ukraine secure and sovereign if there are security arrangements.”
“What’s happening here is turning that political intention into reality, the concept into plans.”
He added: “It is vitally important we do that work because we know one thing for certain, which is a deal without anything behind it is something that Putin will breach.
“We know that because it happened before. I’m absolutely clear in my mind it will happen again”.
For context: Starmer is at the forefront of a group of countries known as the “coalition of the willing” which could provide boots on the ground in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.
Military leaders are discussing the idea in the UK today, as plans move to what Starmer calls an “operational phase.”
What is Starmer’s ‘coalition of the willing’?
Led by the UK and France, Sir Keir Starmer’s “coalition of the willing” could provide boots on the ground in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.
The prime minister has said the UK, France and Ukraine will work together on a peace deal that could be presented to the US.
Countries in the coalition could end up sending soldiers to act as peacekeepers in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.
This approach would allow NATO members to act as a group but not under the NATO umbrella, avoiding vetoes from member states who don’t approve or don’t wish to be involved.
Starmer’s choice of the term “coalition of the willing” is perhaps meant to remind an American audience of a previous use of the same phrase: when the UK, Poland and other countries joined the US invasion of Iraq.
Which countries might be in?
The initiative is being led by the UK and France, so it seems a safe bet that both countries would be involved in the coalition.
Both have powerful militaries and the two nations are also the only countries in Europe with nuclear weapons.
The Baltic states – Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia – are also likely to be involved. All four countries are in NATO and share borders with Russia.
Finland will “definitely” be part of the coalition, the country’s foreign minister said on 12 March.
Turkey, which has the second-largest army in NATO, is ready to send troops to Ukraine if necessary, according to a Turkish military source.
Despite fierce opposition from its government’s allies, Spain will take part in a European military mission to Ukraine, El Pais reported.
Not in Europe but a NATO member, Canada seems another potential contributor to the coalition of the willing, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said he is “open” to sending troops too.
Who’s out?
Poland and Germany are among those not expected to send troops.
Poland has one of the strongest militaries in Europe and aims to spend 4.7% of its GDP on defence this year, well above the NATO target.
But it also has a long border with Ukraine and Belarus and is concerned about its own security.
As for Germany, a new government has not yet been formed after last month’s elections.
Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz previously ruled out sending troops.
Italy is not sending troops at this stage, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on 16 March following the virtual call with European leaders.
What about America?
The elephant in the room is the biggest contributor to NATO: the US.
The hope seems to be that the coalition of the willing initiative would persuade the US as the world’s most powerful military to pledge support as a backstop, to underwrite the peace deal.
It’s unclear so far what Washington’s response will be.
Starmer: ‘Absolutely clear’ Putin will breach peace deal if no security guarantees included
Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer has warned Vladimir Putin will breach any peace deal “without anything behind it” in Ukraine.
The PM was speaking during a visit to a military base in Greater London where he said the work being doing by Ukraine’s allies to secure peace is “vitally important”.
“Last weekend and two weekends before that, we had groupings of international political leaders coming together to provide the political alignment and the collective agreement that we need to work together to ensure that any deal that is put in place is defended,” he said.
