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Downing Street on Monday said it expected “more than 30” countries to join a coalition to help secure a lasting peace in Ukraine, though UK officials admitted many would not be willing to put boots on the ground.
Britain, France and Australia have signalled they are ready to send troops to help enforce a ceasefire in Ukraine, but all have warned any peace could only be guaranteed if the US provided a military “backstop”.
Denmark and Sweden have also said they would be willing to contribute forces in some form to any agreed peacekeeping operation in Ukraine, including the potential deployment of troops.
UK foreign secretary David Lammy on Monday insisted that if Russia rejects a ceasefire, the G7 “have more cards that we can play” to heap pressure on President Vladimir Putin to halt the conflict.
A meeting of G7 foreign ministers last week “helped us ready the tools to get Russia to negotiate seriously”, Lammy told the House of Commons, signalling more sanctions and a seizure of frozen Russian financial assets are potential next steps.
“We can go further to target their energy and defence sectors, further squeeze their oil revenues, and use frozen Russian assets,” Lammy said.
He stressed this last option would need to be a “multilateral endeavour” and highlighted resistance from Belgium and Germany.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign affairs representative, will hold talks with Lammy and UK defence secretary John Healey in London on Tuesday about increasing the economic pressure on Moscow.
It is the first such visit by the EU’s chief diplomat to London since Britain left the bloc more than five years ago, heralding a new era of relations between the two sides, according to the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, head of Britain’s armed forces, will discuss with Kallas how to bolster European military training for Ukrainian troops.
Lammy also announced on Monday that he held a private meeting with US vice-president JD Vance in Washington at the weekend.
Lammy claimed a temporary US suspension on European allies sharing intelligence and military aid with Kyiv earlier this month did not have a “material effect” on Ukraine’s ability to fight Russia.
Military planners from countries joining what UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has called “a coalition of the willing” for peacekeeping in Ukraine are due to hold talks near London on Thursday to discuss operational details.
Most of these countries are European nations, but they also include Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Starmer has said Japan has offered “backing”.
British officials have said that a multinational force could comprise up to 30,000 troops, but military officials admitted that a “durable” peace could only be secured if it was backed by US air power and other support.
Starmer’s spokesperson said on Monday that countries could contribute in many ways, including providing fast jets, engineering and logistics support and backfilling for forces engaged in other theatres.
“It’s not just about troops,” the spokesman said, but added: “There would be a significant force with a significant number of countries.”
A group of EU countries including Ireland, Luxembourg and Belgium have not ruled out participating in a peacekeeping force, depending on the rules of engagement agreed and its legal basis.
Countries bordering Russia such as Finland and Poland have been active in the discussions over a peacekeeping presence without committing any of their own forces.
These countries have argued their militaries are required to remain to defend their nations, in case Russia uses a ceasefire to redeploy troops in a way that could threaten them.
Downing Street said: “The PM has said that for the coalition of the willing and UK troops to be deployed it must be in the context of a secure and lasting peace with US backing being needed. Those discussions are ongoing.”
The fact that US President Donald Trump has declined to offer US military air cover or other support has raised major doubts over the proposed peacekeeping mission.
“No one wants to see a small number of European troops, without US support, in the firing line in Ukraine,” said one EU diplomat. “It would put enormous strain on Nato unity should something occur.”
