UK Accelerates Military Planning to Support Ukraine Amid Ongoing Conflict
The United Kingdom is intensifying its military planning efforts to bolster support for Ukraine, with No 10 indicating that all options, including the deployment of troops on the ground, are on the table. A spokesperson for Keir Starmer emphasized that thousands of troops would be essential to assist Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire and a potential resolution to the war with Russia, whether that support comes via land, sea, or air.
"We will continue to accelerate the pace and scale of operational planning with further meetings at our Northwood headquarters as we look closer at the detail and structure of any future force," said the spokesperson, underlining the need to consider the best capabilities to counter the specific threats facing Ukraine. Not all coalition countries will possess the necessary capabilities for direct deployment to Ukraine but might have other resources that could enable additional nations to assist there.
The intense military preparations are likely to look into the possibility of reallocating British troops from their current locations to support Ukraine, while other nations backfill those positions. Discussions on these plans will occur over a three-day period next week, culminating in a meeting of the coalition of willing nations set to convene in Paris on Thursday, as announced by French President Emmanuel Macron.
A spokesperson from No 10 stated that officials from the coalition aim to expedite the development of proposals for troop deployments across land, air, or sea, ensuring the protection of any peace agreement reached. Following a meeting with military officers from 31 participating countries, which included representatives from France, Poland, the Netherlands, Romania, Canada, and Australia, PM Starmer remarked that Vladimir Putin would face severe consequences should he violate any truce.
When questioned whether the discussions had shifted away from considering ground troops for Ukraine, a No 10 representative responded firmly, asserting that no options were being ruled out at this stage. As Starmer noted, thousands of troops would be needed for any potential deployment, regardless of the specifics of the mission.
The Financial Times reported that Starmer’s focus appears to have moved towards land and sea support, highlighting that Ukraine possesses the necessary capabilities, numbers, and frontline experience. He pointed out that effective deployment would necessitate robust logistical organization to facilitate the movement and rotation of troops, aligning with the Prime Minister's call for preparedness for all eventualities.
In a parallel effort, delegations from Kyiv, Moscow, and the US are expected to convene in Saudi Arabia on Monday for further discussions aimed at achieving peace. Meanwhile, European and Commonwealth allies are working to exert pressure on President Putin, who continues to resist fully endorsing a US and Ukraine-backed agreement, as well as the establishment of a plan for peacekeeping should an accord be reached.
In a recent development, Moscow has reportedly agreed to halt attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure following talks between Putin and US President Donald Trump; however, Kyiv has raised concerns over attacks against civilian targets like hospitals.
Starmer is also set to engage in discussions with non-EU countries and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to review updates that have been circulating at the EU level. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed hope that a lasting peace could be attained this year following his recent communication with President Trump, although he dismissed any notion that the US could assume control of Ukrainian power facilities to guarantee their security.
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