UK prime minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed ongoing work by the ‘coalition of the willing’ to prepare for the deployment of a multinational force to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire, Downing Street said,
The Guardian reports.
The UK is still willing to put boots on the ground to protect Kyiv if there is a cessation of hostilities, the prime minister’s official spokesperson confirmed, reports the PA news agency.
In a readout of the call between the two leaders on Tuesday, a Downing Street spokesperson said:
The prime minister began by sharing his condolences with President Zelensky on the appalling Russian attacks overnight, paying tribute to the Ukrainian people who showed such courage and resilience in the face of daily hardship and bloodshed from Putin’s ongoing onslaught.
Reflecting on the talks in Geneva and the diplomatic discussions that have followed, the leaders agreed on the importance of securing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.
The prime minister said Ukraine could rely on the UK support as discussions continued. Looking ahead to this afternoon’s coalition of the willing call, the leaders discussed the international unity that has been shown in support for Ukraine and underlined the importance of the continued work by coalition partners in preparation for deployment for multinational force following the cessation of hostilities.
The prime minister and president look forward to speaking again soon.
No 10 said it would not get ahead of discussions among the ‘coalition of the willing’ on Tuesday afternoon but that “planning has continued on an enduring basis” after the UK and France’s commitment in the summer to a multinational force to help strengthen Ukraine’s path to peace.
Asked whether the UK was still prepared to put boots on the ground, Starmer’s official spokesperson said:
If you’re asking me directly, is the UK still willing to put boots on the ground in the event of hostilities ceasing, the answer is yes. That’s our existing position.
