Ukraine, allies draft escalation plan to enforce ceasefire with Russia Exclusive by FT

Ukraine has reached an understanding with its Western partners that any sustained violations by Russia of a future ceasefire agreement would lead to a coordinated military response involving Europe and the US, according to an exclusive report by the Financial Times on February 3, citing sources familiar with the discussions.

The framework was reportedly reviewed several times in December and January during talks among Ukrainian, European, and American officials. It outlines a phased response mechanism designed to address any breaches of a potential armistice by Moscow.

Under the proposal, an initial Russian violation would trigger action within 24 hours, beginning with a formal diplomatic warning. If the breach continued, Ukrainian forces would be authorised to intervene to stop the violation.

Should hostilities persist beyond this stage, the plan would escalate to a second phase involving military support from the so-called coalition of the willing, made up of numerous European Union countries along with the United Kingdom, Norway, Iceland, and Türkiye.

The Financial Times added that in the event of a broader Russian offensive, a larger coordinated response by a Western-backed force — including US military involvement — would be activated within 72 hours of the initial ceasefire breach.

The report also noted that envoys from Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington are scheduled to meet in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday and Thursday for negotiations aimed at ending the war.

By Tamilla Hasanova