Ukraine’s supporters move to ‘operational phase’ in ceasefire planning, Starmer says

The leaders of 26 countries agreed to move to a “operational stage” in planning a multinational power to ensure a ceasefire in Ukraine, the UK Prime Minister Sir Kerr Starmer said, adding: “Let the weapons silent.”

Starmer said that the two military planners will meet in London on Thursday to discuss how the armistice can be guaranteed “through strong security arrangements through our alliance with those who wish.”

After hosting a video call to 26 European leaders mainly on Saturday, Starmer admitted that the United States is still not ready to provide the military “Backstop” to ensure a solid peace.

Starmer said: “The deterioration of the Kremlin and its delay on President Trump’s proposal, and the ongoing Berber attacks on Ukraine, are completely inconsistent with President Putin’s declared desire for peace,” Starmer said. Yes, but. . . “Not good enough.”

Speaking at Downing Street, Starmer stressed that the group of countries “will double and increase sanctions” to Russia, including looking at the option to seize Russian assets to intensify pressure on Putin.

British officials said that a number of countries have made new offers to send forces to Ukraine to help secure a peace agreement, but they refused to determine which of them.

“The position of the United States has not changed,” said Starmer. “We were clear that this should be done in conjunction with the United States.” He said Britain was speaking to the United States on a daily basis.

Starmer launched what he called an alliance of those wishing to a summit in London two weeks ago, where the collected countries are studying different levels of support for Ukraine.

Most of the countries were in an invitation on Saturday from Europe. The participants also included Australia, Canada and New Zealand. The European Union and NATO were represented along with Ukraine. Starmer said that Japan, which was not on the call, provided “support.”

Britain and France are the only states that have been firmly committed to sending forces to Ukraine to help ensure a peace agreement, although others are open to the idea. Some provided financial or logistical support.

The leaders agreed to conduct preparations to send a force to Ukraine in the event of a peace agreement as a “strong” guarantee, with talks at the level of the military plan to be held in London on Thursday.

“We have agreed to accelerate our practical work to support a possible deal. So we will now move on to an operational stage.

Starmer said that the leaders agreed to increase the financial and military support of Ukraine in the short term, but also in the long run, to help Kiev providing her security guarantees.

He stressed the need for our support for any peacekeeping process, saying that the danger is to “repeat the experience of recent years and Russia will penetrate the line again.”

The Prime Minister also confirmed that the leaders discussed the strengthening of sanctions if Putin did not agree to a ceasefire. The seizure of more than 200 billion euros of Russia’s frozen origin was being seen.

The number 10 acknowledged that the seizure of Russian assets – instead of using the interest that accumulates them to support Ukraine, as it is currently – was a “complex situation”.

Starmer said that the leaders “will continue to explore all legal ways to ensure that Russia is paying due to the damage to Ukraine.”

France and Germany, which has long opposed a full seizure of the assets held in the European Union, heated the idea and discusses with the United Kingdom other methods that can be used as part of negotiation to end the war.

While Britain and France offered the status of forces on the ground to help secure peace-but only if the initial ceasefire was for 30 days-other countries were more frequent in providing direct military support.

Starmer told the meeting that the “coalition of those who wish” had to help “monitor the ceasefire” during the armistice. UK officials said that this initially included satellites and surveillance instead of deploying the forces to Ukraine.

Countries, including Germany and Poland, have reservations about sending forces to Ukraine. The Italian Prime Minister, Georgia Meloni, said that the Italian participation in “potential military force on the ground was not perceived.”

Dutch Prime Minister, on the Dutch Prime Minister, said that the Netherlands will join the meeting of the military planners on Thursday “in the context of security guarantees.”

Ursula von der Lin, head of the European Commission, said the ball was in the Putin court. “Meanwhile, we will support the strengthening of Ukraine and its armed forces.”

“We will escalate the defense efforts in Europe by reuniting Europe,” she added, referring to the new Brussels initiatives aimed at increasing spending on national defense.

The German counselor, Ferdrich Mirz, whose Christian Democratic Party won the elections last month, reached an agreement with the main parties in the country to pump hundreds of billions in the defense sector in Germany and exempt military aid to Ukraine from the borders of strict loans. The German parliament is scheduled to vote on constitutional changes on Tuesday.

Additional reports by Amy Kazmen in Rome, Ann Silvin Chasani in Berlin, Andy Haddi and Henry Voy in Brussels