British premier outlines plans for 'coalition of the willing' to secure Ukraine peace deal
'A number of countries have indicated they are willing to join the coalition, but it’s up to them to announce that,' says Keir Starmer after historic defense summit in London
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (C), French President Emmanuel Macron (L) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (R) attend the Ukraine-focused leaders' summit, organized by the UK Foreign Ministry, at the historic Lancaster House estate in London, United Kingdom on March 02, 2025.
LONDON
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday confirmed plans to create a "coalition of the willing" to enforce any peace deal in Ukraine, with the UK set to take a leading role in this international effort.
Speaking at a news conference after a defense summit in London, Starmer reiterated the UK's commitment to supporting Ukraine, highlighting the importance of keeping military aid flowing while increasing economic pressure on Russia.
"We will go further, developing a coalition of the willing to defend a deal in Ukraine and guarantee peace," he said.
While acknowledging that not all nations may feel able to contribute, he stressed that the global community cannot simply "sit back" as the war in Ukraine drags on.
"A number of countries have indicated they are willing to join the coalition, but it’s up to them to announce that," he added.
Starmer made it clear that Ukraine must be part of any peace talks, noting that while some nations may not wish to contribute to military efforts, the coalition's goal would be to ensure peace and stability across Europe.
📍UK hosts summit to discuss Russia - Ukraine War
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) March 2, 2025
🔴 ''The UK is prepared to back this with boots on the ground and planes in the air, together with others. Europe must do the heavy lifting, but to support peace in our continent and to succeed, this effort must have strong us… pic.twitter.com/IUKW69a4tx
This move aims to garner momentum for peace negotiations, which Starmer believes can only progress with the backing of a unified international response.
Discussing the role of the US, Starmer hinted at a conversation with US President Donald Trump, though he declined to go into specifics.
"I would not be taking this step if I didn’t think it would yield a positive outcome in terms of ensuring Ukraine, Europe, the UK, and the US move together towards lasting peace," he said.
In addition to military support, Starmer announced further financial backing for Ukraine, with a new £1.6 billion ($2 billion) in UK export finance.
This funding is aimed at strengthening Ukraine's defenses, including the purchase of more than 5,000 air defense missiles, which will be produced in Belfast, providing a boost to the UK's defense sector.
He also emphasized the importance of avoiding "weak" peace deals like the Minsk Accords.
“We cannot accept a weak deal like Minsk," he stated. "This will be vital for protecting critical infrastructure now and strengthening Ukraine in securing peace when it comes."
Starmer was also asked whether he feared that the West might divide over its support for Ukraine, in light of comments made by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni about avoiding such risks.
Starmer agreed with Meloni, saying that he shared "a huge amount of common ground" with her on the need for European unity. He further underscored that Europe’s security hinges on working closely with the US.
He also addressed concerns about potential conflict between the UK and Russia.
Reiterating that the ultimate aim of the coalition and peace efforts is to guarantee stability and avoid further conflict, he concluded: "I do not want conflict in Ukraine, in Europe, and certainly not in the United Kingdom. I want stability in the UK."
