British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warned that Vladimir Putin will break any peace agreement with Ukraine unless it is “defended” by a robust international coalition. His remarks came during a visit to a UK military base, where he met senior military officials from over 30 nations assembled to develop actionable plans for supporting Ukraine.
Starmer emphasized the need for a unified military response to protect Kyiv from potential threats on land, sea, and air following any ceasefire. As Donald Trump advocates for an immediate cessation of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, there are growing concerns among analysts that the coalition—led by the UK and France—could be sidelined as peace is declared before it can effectively organize itself.
The urgency of the situation was underscored by a significant Russian drone attack on the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa reported on Thursday night, even as discussions on peace were being promoted by US officials.
Separately, US negotiators are scheduled to meet with both Ukrainian and Russian representatives in Saudi Arabia on Monday to advance discussions on a ceasefire.
In addition, Trump claimed he was on the verge of signing a crucial economic deal with Ukraine intended to bolster US-Ukraine relations and solidify Washington’s backing for Kyiv, although concrete details have yet to materialize.
During his visit to the UK’s Permanent Joint Headquarters at Northwood, near London, Starmer met with military planners from various European and allied nations, including Turkey, the Netherlands, and Canada, some of whom were joined by Ukrainian officers and NATO representatives. “Now is the time to be doing this,” he stated, referring to the discussions at hand.
Starmer highlighted the importance of preparation ahead of any potential peace agreement: “We don’t know what the outcome of any talks will be, but we do know that if a deal is reached, it’s crucial to have made the necessary preparations beforehand.”
Details about what Western officials have referred to as a “reassurance force” for Ukraine are still being finalized, including its size and command structure. Initial plans indicated it could involve the deployment of thousands of troops to secure cities and protect critical infrastructure, while Royal Air Force warplanes and other countries’ jets would secure Ukrainian airspace, alongside naval assistance from the Royal Navy.
However, Starmer warned that without US backing, a European-led coalition—even with support from countries like Canada—might fail to effectively deter Russian aggression.
The British Prime Minister reiterated that lasting peace would only be assured through a “defended deal”: “What we’re doing here is transforming political intention into real plans—whether that’s regarding air and naval defense or border protection,” he remarked. “It is essential to carry out this work because we know that a deal without military backing is something that Putin will breach.”
Starmer concluded by emphasizing the historical context and the likelihood of Putin disregarding any unprotected agreement, stating, “We know that because it’s happened before. And I’m absolutely clear it will happen again.”
