PM says peacekeeping force plans in ‘operational phase'

UK will host military chiefs from ‘coalition of the willing’ on Thursday to create robust strategy to back Ukraine ceasefire

- MILLIE COOKE

Sir Keir Starmer has declared that plans to put a peacekeeping force in Ukraine have now entered an “operational phase”, as Britain prepares to host military chiefs from a group of Western countries ready to support a ceasefire.

Sending the strongest signal yet that the “coalition of the willing” is pressing ahead with the pledge to back a ceasefire deal with troops on the ground, the PM said allies would be prepared to “help secure Ukraine on the land, at sea and in the sky”.

“We won’t sit back and wait for Putin to act,” the prime minister warned, vowing to “keep pushing forward” with the plan for peace.

Speaking from Downing Street, Sir Keir said military chiefs from across the world will meet on Thursday and put in place “strong and robust plans... to swing in behind a peace deal and guarantee Ukraine’s future security”.

The PM also piled pressure on Vladimir Putin to accept peace proposals and attempted to draw a clear dividing line between Donald Trump and the Kremlin dictator, warning that Russia was trying to delay Mr Trump’s plan for peace in the region.

Despite the US president saying he held “good and productive” talks with Russia on Friday, Putin has been accused of using delaying tactics to stall the negotiations. “Sooner or later, Putin will have to come to the table,” Sir Keir warned. “This is the moment, let the guns fall silent, let the barbaric attacks on Ukraine, once and for all, stop, and agree to a ceasefire now.”