PM Starmer highlights UK's military support for Ukraine as Western leaders convene

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasised the UK's commitment to military support for Ukraine on March 20, as key discussions were held among Western military planners to finalise details of a strategic support plan. 

The military planners, representing the "coalition of the willing"—a group of Western nations—met for the second time since former U.S. President Donald Trump stunned Europe by initiating talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Starmer, whose standing has grown in recent months due to his active role in coordinating Western backing for Ukraine alongside France, stated that the talks would revolve around “military planning, military operations” designed to support Ukraine.

"Today, those plans are focusing on keeping the skies safe, the seas safe and the borders safe and secure in Ukraine," Starmer told reporters. “Now we're working at pace because we don't know if there'll be a deal, I certainly hope there will be, but if there's a deal, it's really important that we're able to react straight away."

According to a spokesperson, more than 25 countries are involved in the talks, either in person or remotely, where they will delve into “the granular detail” of peace proposals. These discussions will not only address the role of peacekeepers but also consider how to possibly replace those countries contributing troops, military equipment, and logistics support.

“They are going to get into the detail,” the spokesperson confirmed.

The meeting is part of a series of discussions within the 'coalition of the willing,' which on March 15 agreed to increase pressure on Putin to accept an unconditional ceasefire deal as a precursor to broader peace talks.

Although Russia has indicated support for a ceasefire in principle, it has set conditions that mirror its war objectives and has repeatedly rejected the idea of NATO troops being stationed in Ukraine.

The latest discussions are intended to signal that Europe is making progress on providing Ukraine with security guarantees in the event of a peace agreement. However, much of the military planning hinges on whether Trump will agree to a U.S. backstop for the peace deal.

So far, Trump has not committed to this support, arguing that a minerals deal with Ukraine would allow U.S. personnel to be stationed in the country, deterring any further Russian aggression.

Starmer's spokesperson confirmed that talks with Washington regarding a backstop are ongoing.

In a rare public display of the UK’s nuclear deterrent, Starmer was also pictured aboard a submarine this week, meeting submariners who had just returned from a months-long patrol. This marks the first time in over a decade that a British prime minister has visited the country’s nuclear forces at sea.

By Aghakazim Guliyev