London (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will host a virtual conference of world leaders today to address peacekeeping in Ukraine, and he will utilise the call to express that now is the time for “concrete commitments”, Downing Street has stated.
Over 25 leaders are expected to participate in the call, in which they will examine in more detail the peacekeeping task the prime minister has called the ‘coalition of the willing’. PM will ask partners to continue to increase military support to Ukraine.
Starmer will also say governments need to supplement economic pressure on Russia in the short term, and be equipped to support an eventual peace agreement over the long term, should an arrangement be reached. Attendees will also obtain an update on the meetings of defence ministers and military leaders in Paris this week, and they will all discuss elements of their own efforts to unlock further military backing for Ukraine.
Downing Street has affirmed that some European nations, the European Commission, NATO, Ukraine, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are expected to join the virtual conference.
What is Keir Starmer’s plan for Ukraine peacekeeping?
According to a statement released before the call, the prime minister stated:
“We can’t allow President Putin to play games with President Trump’s deal. The Kremlin’s complete disregard for President Trump’s ceasefire proposal only serves to demonstrate that Putin is not serious about peace.
“If Russia finally comes to the table, then we must be ready to monitor a ceasefire to ensure it is a serious and enduring peace, if they don’t, then we need to strain every sinew to ramp up economic pressure on Russia to secure an end to this war.”
Keir Starmer went on to blame the Russian president of “trying to delay” by “saying there must be a painstaking study before a ceasefire can take place”.
“The world needs to see action, not a study or empty words and pointless conditions,”
He alerted.
“My message to the Kremlin could not be clearer: stop the barbaric attacks on Ukraine, once and for all, and agree to a ceasefire now. Until then, we will keep working around the clock to deliver peace.”
Sir Keir has said UK could dispatch peacekeepers to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire agreement, but has called on the US to offer a security ‘backstop’ to those troops.
