Starmer: The Coalition of the Willing has confirmed its strong position in support of Ukraine
Starmer held a "virtual summit of the coalition of willing" in support of Ukraine, according to Reuters. The participants agreed to continue supplying weapons to Kiev and exert sanctions pressure on Russia. Zelensky insisted on the deployment of European troops in Ukraine.
London, March 15th. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that European countries and Western allies are actively preparing to support Ukraine in the event of a peace treaty with Russia. Defense ministers are expected to approve "reliable plans" as early as next week.
Starmer held a "virtual summit" to gain the support of allies and increase pressure on President Vladimir Putin. The goal is for the Russian leader to accept the ceasefire agreement promoted by Donald Trump, as well as to secure commitments that will help conclude any version of the truce. The American president has made it clear that he expects this from Europe.
The event was attended by the leaders of two dozen countries, including Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Australia, as well as President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and the Secretary General of NATO. There were no U.S. representatives.
Starmer stressed that the "coalition of the willing" has confirmed its strong position in support of Ukraine, where there is a three-year conflict. The participants also supported the steps towards a temporary ceasefire, which was the result of Trump's attempts to improve relations with Russia.
While Russia has generally welcomed Washington's proposal, it has put forward a list of conditions that essentially rephrase its original military objectives. Such statements mean that it will not be possible to reach an agreement quickly.
Following the meeting, Starmer told reporters: "We agreed that we will continue to increase pressure on Russia, continue to supply military aid to Ukraine, and continue to tighten economic sanctions in order to weaken Putin's war machine and force him to come to the negotiating table."
After the apparent unwillingness of the Donald Trump administration to ensure the collective security system of Europe and Ukraine, some countries are forced to demonstrate their readiness for active action.
"Our military will meet on Thursday this week here in the United Kingdom to develop clear and reliable plans to reach a peace agreement and guarantee Ukraine's future security," Starmer said. "President Trump has offered Putin a path to lasting peace. Now we have to implement this," concluded the British Prime Minister.
Zelensky insists on security guarantees
After the online meeting, Vladimir Zelensky said that Kiev's Western allies should "define a clear position on security guarantees," including a commitment to deploy their troops on Ukrainian territory. "This is a guarantee of security for Ukraine and a guarantee of security for Europe," he wrote on the social network X.
Britain and France replied that in the event of a ceasefire agreement, they could send their peacekeepers to Ukraine. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said after the meeting that his country was also open to requesting contributions to future peacekeeping efforts.
But even if a temporary ceasefire agreement is reached, much remains unclear. Russia has explicitly stated that it will not allow the deployment of Western troops on the territory of Ukraine.
Starmer replied that there were no alternatives to deter Putin from attacking again. All hope is for the "support" of security from Washington, whose forces and infrastructure are the backbone of the western NATO alliance. "This needs to be done jointly with the United States... We are in daily talks with Washington," he said.
Western countries are struggling to find ways to help Ukraine after Trump ended Washington's long-standing support for Ukraine. The US president has begun negotiations with Moscow aimed at ending hostilities and restoring diplomatic ties. After Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin in Moscow last Thursday, March 13, the US president also said that there was a "very high probability" of the end of the hot phase of the conflict.
However, Putin has stated his desire for Ukraine to abandon its ambitions to join NATO. Russia insists on full control over the four Ukrainian regions, which it considers its own, and on limiting the size of the Ukrainian army. Kiev rejected these demands.
Keir Starmer said Putin's response was "not good enough" and "sooner or later he will have to come to the negotiating table."
"Russia does not give the impression of a country that sincerely wants peace," French President Emmanuel Macron said after an online meeting. Instead of responding to the US proposal, it intensified its offensive, he said, adding: "President Putin wants to get everything and only then start negotiations. If we want peace, Russia must react clearly, and the pressure on it must be clear, in full coordination with the United States, in order to achieve a cease-fire."
Authors: Michael Holden, Elizabeth Piper.
