Prime Minister Keir Starmer travels to Paris today for a gathering of the ‘coalition of the willing’, a group of leaders prepared to help police a potential peace deal in Ukraine
Keir Starmer will warn Vladimir Putin must show “he’s willing to play ball” as European allies gather for talks on protecting peace in Ukraine.
The Prime Minister travels to Paris today for a gathering of the “coalition of the willing”, a group of leaders prepared to help police a potential peace deal.
He is expected to update the summit on progress in hammering out peacekeeping plans after 200 military planners met at Northwood in Hertfordshire last week.
Military planning has looked at air land and sea forces to protect a ceasefire, including aircraft, tanks, troops, intelligence and logistics capabilities.
The PM will say all countries must come together to support Ukraine to remain in the fight and back US efforts to secure a peace deal in the face of cynical games by President Putin.
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Mr Starmer was expected to say: “Unlike President Zelenskyy, Putin has shown he’s not a serious player in these peace talks.
Playing games with the agreed naval ceasefire in the Black Sea despite good faith participation from all sides – all while continuing to inflict devastating attacks on the Ukrainian people. His promises are hollow.
“The US is playing a leading role by convening the ceasefire talks, President Zelenskyy has demonstrated his commitment repeatedly, and Europe is stepping up to play its part to defend Ukraine’s future.
“Now Putin needs to show he’s willing to play ball.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said last night that a proposed European peacekeeping force could “respond” to a Russian attack if Moscow launched one.
Speaking ahead of the summit of some 30 nations, he said: “If there was again a generalized aggression against Ukrainian soil, these armies would be under attack and then it’s our usual framework of engagement.
“Our soldiers, when they are engaged and deployed, are there to react and respond to the decisions of the commander in chief and, if they are in a conflict situation, to respond to it.”
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