Downing Street has said on Monday afternoon that more than 30 countries are prepared to join the “coalition of the willing” and enforce a peace deal in Ukraine.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters a “significant number” of countries will deploy boots on the ground in Ukraine and held with logistics.
Russia has rejected this proposal warning it could lead to a wider war, but Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman said Moscow “didn’t ask Ukraine when it deployed North Korean troops” to the battlefields.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman told reporters on Monday, “The Prime Minister said over the weekend, there’s going to be different capabilities from different countries, but these are now the operational discussions that are ongoing in relation to what the coalition of the willing will be able to provide.
“We’re expecting more than 30 countries to be involved.
“Obviously the contribution capabilities will vary, but this will be a significant force, with a significant number of countries providing troops and a larger group contributing in other ways.”
He said that the Prime Minister still believes an American security guarantee is needed for the European led peacekeeping army.
He was asked if British troops will be allowed to shoot back at Russian soldiers, the spokesman said lets not “get ahead” of ourselves.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman added, “The PM has said for the coalition of the willing, for UK troops to be deployed, it must be in the context of a secure and lasting peace with US backing being needed, but as I said, those discussions are ongoing, and part of the discussions that he had with President Trump at the White House.”
Asked if UK peacekeeping troops would be allowed to fire back at Russian soldiers, the spokesman said this would be “getting ahead” of planning conversations.
He added: “But it is worth remembering that Russia didn’t ask Ukraine when it deployed North Korean troops to the front-line last year, but we’ve got the operational planning meetings that are going to go through the details.”
Sir Keir Starmer said British forces will be deployed long side Western troops in keep the ceasefire in place.
Up to 30,000 soldiers could be deployed to Ukraine from countries such as Canada, Australia, Turkey, France and the UK.
On Thursday members of the “coalition of the willing” are to meet in London and they will speak in “great specific” as to where the peacekeepers will be sent.
A government sources said, “It would be a long-term commitment, we are talking about years. As long as it takes to preserve a peace deal and deter Russia.”
