British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that the Coalition of the Willing has completed the development of military plans to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities, including the possible deployment of troops on its territory if necessary.
“We have stated that we want to develop military plans to ensure security in the air, at sea, and on land, as well as to strengthen Ukraine’s own capabilities. Now we have military plans for each of these areas,” Starmer said in an interview with reporters. He stressed that, if necessary, this includes the deployment of ground forces, but priority remains achieving a just and sustainable peace.
Starmer’s statement came amid recent talks in Berlin involving leaders of European countries, Ukraine, and representatives of the US. Following the meeting, the leaders of the UK, France, Germany, and other countries issued a joint statement confirming their readiness to create a European multinational force under the auspices of the Coalition of the Willing with US support. This force could assist in rebuilding the Ukrainian armed forces and ensuring air and maritime security, including operations on Ukrainian territory.
The Coalition of the Willing, initiated by the United Kingdom and France in the spring of 2025, brings together more than 30 countries ready to provide security guarantees to Ukraine in the event of a peace agreement with Russia. The plans call for the deployment of forces to prevent possible new aggressions, but only after a truce has been reached.
Starmer noted that any peace agreement must include robust security guarantees, otherwise they are doomed to failure, as historical experience has shown. “Putin has repeatedly demonstrated that he will come back for more if he sees an opportunity,” the British prime minister added.