Reassurance force on table as EU leaders unite behind Ukraine

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer co-chaired a virtual meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, bringing together over 30 international leaders to discuss the outcomes of the high-level talks held in Washington last night and coordinate next steps toward securing peace in Ukraine.

Opening the session, the Prime Minister described the Washington meeting as “constructive,” noting that it had underscored a collective determination to pursue a durable resolution to the ongoing conflict, Caliber.Az reports, citing the UK Prime Minister's office.

The Prime Minister emphasized: “It was clear there was a real sense of unity and shared goal of securing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.”

Turning attention to the immediate path forward, the Prime Minister announced that planning teams from the Coalition of the Willing would soon meet with their US counterparts. These meetings aim to refine the framework for delivering robust security guarantees to Ukraine and to prepare for the potential deployment of a reassurance force, should hostilities cease.

In addition to security measures, leaders also discussed strategies for intensifying diplomatic and economic pressure on the Kremlin. Sanctions remain a central pillar of the international community’s response, and further actions are being explored to compel Russian President Vladimir Putin to end what leaders unanimously described as an illegal invasion.

The Prime Minister reiterated the necessity of sustained pressure: “Further pressure – including through sanctions – could be placed on Putin until he showed he was ready to take serious action to end his illegal invasion.”

He concluded by expressing his intention to reconvene the group as developments unfold: “The Prime Minister said he looked forward to updating the group again soon, as further work progressed in the coming days and weeks.”

By Vafa Guliyeva