Amid US rift with Ukraine, UK proposes peace plan with ‘coalition of the willing’ boots on the ground
Success of the coalition is dependent on “strong US backing,” according to British Prime Minister Kier Starmer, despite a clear gulf between the Trump administration and similar UK calls for Washington to act as a security guarantor overseeing a peace settlement.
A UK Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon conducts a NATO air policing mission (UK MoD)
BELFAST — In the event of a peace agreement for the conflict in Ukraine, the UK has vowed to establish a European “coalition of the willing” to protect Kyiv from Moscow, by deploying “boots on the ground, and planes in the air.”
British Prime Minister Kier Starmer announced the move on Sunday during a meeting of 18 European leaders in London, set against a disastrous breakdown in relations between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a recent heated argument at the White House.
The proposed coalition is the key point at the heart of a four point plan launched by the UK, in collaboration with France, Ukraine and others. The other three points are to:
- renew support for Ukraine through a commitment to continue supplying Kyiv with weapons
- establish a “lasting peace” tied to Ukraine sovereignty, while involving Kyiv in negotiations
- ramp up Kyiv’s “defensive capabilities” in the event of a peace deal being struck.
“Not every nation will feel able to contribute, but that can’t mean we sit back,” Starmer said of the coalition pledge — a sign that European nations are split over the idea as it could potentially draw them into armed conflict with Russia.
“Instead, those willing will intensify planning now — with real urgency,” explained Starmer. “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.”
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During questions with lawmakers today however, Starmer said that the government is “nowhere near” the phase of holding a parliamentary vote on British troops deploying to Ukraine.
Also, success of the coalition is dependent on “strong US backing,” according to Starmer’s remarks Sunday, despite a clear gulf between the Trump administration and similar UK calls for Washington to act as a security guarantor overseeing a peace settlement. Trump has excluded Europe and Ukraine from peace negotiations, initially demanded Kyiv sign over a $500 billion share of raw earth minerals in return for continued US military aid and balked at deploying US forces to support a peace deal.
“We have agreed that the UK, France and others will work with Ukraine on a plan to stop the fighting,” said Starmer. “Then we’ll discuss that plan with the United States and take it forward together. The purpose of today’s meeting was to unite our partners around this effort to strengthen Ukraine and to support a just and enduring peace for the good of all of us.”
He ruled out accepting any “weak deal,” but it remains to be seen how outstanding differences between Europe and the US over Ukraine will be reconciled. Russia has previously pushed back on UK- and French-backed plans for a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine.
More Thales Missiles For Kyiv
Meanwhile, London also announced on Sunday that it had approved a £1.6 billion ($2 billion) deal for Ukraine to acquire over 5,000 Thales made lightweight-multirole missiles (LMM). The contract is funded by a British export finance loan, and the French manufacturer’s UK arm will produce the air defense weapons from Belfast, Northern Ireland.
As noted by London, it marks the largest contract signed by the UK MoD and Thales in Belfast to date and builds off a similar LMM contract signed last year for 650 missiles. To support the latest contract, a Ukrainian industry partner will manufacture launchers and command and control vehicles for the 29-pound weapon, which is designed to target armored patrol carriers, inshore attack craft and drones, according to Thales.
“This large deal and its timing underline the gap between the UK and Washington DC on support for Ukraine,” said Trevor Taylor, director of the Defence, Industries and Society Programme at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), in a statement to media.
“It also stresses the value of the UK’s industrial capabilities as a critical enabler of UK foreign and security policy. The production arrangements for the launchers and command and control vehicles for Ukraine mark a deepening of the cooperation of Western European firms with Ukrainian industry,” he said.
The UK’s LMM contract comes on the heels of Starmer committing to increase national defense spending to 2.5 percent GDP by 2027.
