Coalition of willing’ to send troops to Ukraine if truce achieved – Starmer

LONDON, Oct 25 : The so-called “coalition of the willing” continues preparations for deploying a contingent to Ukraine once a peace agreement is reached, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Friday. Earlier in the day, another meeting of the coalition took place in London in a hybrid format.
Attendees included Starmer, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, with an additional 20 leaders joining via video link.
“While the immediate priority is to maintain pressure on Russia, we are also advancing work on security guarantees, including a multinational force in Ukraine to uphold a just and lasting peace when that day comes,” Starmer said during a press conference.
The UK is currently focusing on supplying Kyiv with air defense systems and is accelerating the delivery of short-range Martlet air defense missiles. Starmer added that London plans to deliver 140 missiles ahead of schedule.
The coalition also intends to provide Ukraine with long-range weapons, he said. Starmer further noted that coalition countries aim to take additional measures to remove Russian oil and gas from global markets, including encouraging third countries to stop purchasing Russian energy. The coalition also plans to pursue “progress on Russia’s sovereign assets to unlock billions to help finance Ukraine’s defense,” he added.
In July, London announced an agreement to supply Ukraine with 5,000 Martlet air defense missiles, manufactured at the Thales defense plant in Belfast, operated by the French company.
Russia, however, has criticized arms supplies to Ukraine, arguing they hinder the peace process and risk direct NATO involvement in the conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine would be considered a legitimate target by Russia.
(UNI)

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