LONDON – UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized on Sunday that “Europe must do the heavy lifting” in securing peace in Ukraine, signaling that several nations are ready to assist in maintaining any ceasefire. Speaking after a meeting with more than a dozen world leaders in London, Starmer reiterated the need for strong US support to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from violating any potential peace agreement.
“Europe must do the heavy lifting, but to support peace in our continent, and to succeed, this effort must have strong US backing,” Starmer told reporters. He also highlighted the UK and France’s readiness to deploy troops to Ukraine if a peace agreement is reached.
Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have been at the forefront of efforts to form a “coalition of the willing” – a group of nations committed to contributing to peacekeeping efforts in Ukraine. While Starmer did not disclose the names of the countries involved, he stated that several nations had expressed a desire to be part of the initiative. He added that planning would intensify in the coming weeks, with a focus on swift action.
While Starmer expressed confidence in the involvement of the United States, he noted that US President Donald Trump has yet to commit to specific security guarantees for the effort. Starmer stated that discussions were ongoing, and the plan was based on the assumption that it would receive US backing.
“I would not be taking this step down this road if I didn’t think it would yield a positive outcome in terms of ensuring unity between Ukraine, Europe, the UK, and the US,” Starmer remarked.
Read more: Britain, France, and Ukraine Plan to End Conflict with Russia Amid US Tensions
Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni downplayed the possibility of Italian peacekeepers being sent to Ukraine. She clarified that the presence of Italian troops in Ukraine had “never been on the agenda” and expressed concerns that such a move could complicate the situation further without yielding decisive results.
In addition to diplomatic talks, Starmer announced a significant new deal, granting Ukraine £1.6 billion ($2 billion) of UK export finance to purchase over 5,000 air defense missiles. This deal further underscores the UK’s commitment to supporting Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression.
As the situation in Ukraine remains volatile, the international community continues to seek ways to bring an end to the conflict and ensure lasting peace in the region.
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