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15th March 2025
04:14pm GMT
Prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer has said military chiefs will meet in the UK on Thursday as plans for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine move into an 'operational phase'.
He told a press conference in Downing Street: "We agreed to accelerate our practical work to support a potential deal. So, we will now move into an operational phase.
"Our militaries will meet on Thursday this week here in the United Kingdom to put strong and robust plans in place to swing in behind a peace deal and guarantee Ukraine's future security."
At a press conference held at Downing Street, Starmer said he had hosted a call with counterparts from NATO, the European Union, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The Prime Minister also praised Donald Trump for pushing for a peace deal in Saudi Arabia.
He added: "We reaffirmed our commitment to Ukraine’s long-term security and agreed that Ukraine must be able to defend itself and deter future Russian aggression.
"Robust and credible security arrangements are the best way to ensure that any deal ends in a lasting peace. We agreed military planners would convene again in the UK this week to progress practical plans for how our militaries can support Ukraine’s future security.
"We will build up Ukraine’s own defences and armed forces, and be ready to deploy as a ‘coalition of the willing’ in the event of a peace deal, to help secure Ukraine on the land, at sea and in the sky."
Starmer spoke to approximately 25 world leaders and said that Volodymyr Zelensky, who was also on the call, had shown 'once again that Ukraine is the party of peace' after they agreed to the US-brokered ceasefire deal.
Russia rejected the offer and chose to continue their war against Ukraine.
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