Planning for a peacekeeping force for Ukraine will now move into an «operational phase»
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said this after a meeting of the «coalition of the willing» on Saturday.
The prime minister announced that military chiefs from a group of Western countries willing to support a ceasefire would meet in London on Thursday to “put in place strong and robust plans to back a peace deal and guarantee Ukraine’s future security”, writes The Telegraph.
This is the moment to keep driving towards the outcome we all want to see.
A just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and lasting security for us all. pic.twitter.com/V1QeYFuw4Q
– UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) March 15, 2025
Our Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre participated in Saturday’s digital meeting.
– It’s been a good meeting, and it’s positive that European countries are meeting and coordinating their messages to end the war in Ukraine and better coordinate support for Ukrainians in this demanding time,” said Støre (Ap) to NTB.
– There is agreement that the ball is now in Russia’s court. Russia must show a real desire for peace and not complicate the way forward with ever new demands and unacceptable attacks on Ukraine,” says the Prime Minister.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyj also attended the meeting, as did Canada’s new Prime Minister, Mark Carney. European politicians consider co-operation with Canada to be important due to the troubled relationship between the US and Europe.
Canada says it will participate in Starmer’s European coalition of the willing, even though it is outside Europe.
The idea of European peacekeepers in Uklraina has been hatched by Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. But the idea has three main problems.
Firstly, there are not enough European soldiers. Secondly, Russia categorically rejects European forces on Ukrainian soil, and thirdly, the US says it is unwilling to send American troops into Ukraine.
This means that the small European force will be completely helpless in a crisis situation. Norway has not yet decided whether Norwegian soldiers will participate in the coalition.
