UK urges ‘coalition’ to step up Ukraine planning
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The UK’s defence minister has urged his counterparts from about 30 countries to press ahead with plans to deploy troops to Ukraine to police any future peace agreement with Russia.
Chairing the first meeting of the so-called “coalition of the willing” at the level of defence ministers, United Kingdom Defence Secretary John Healey said its members must ensure “that we’re fully prepared for the moment a peace agreement is reached”.
“We must be ready for when that peace comes. That’s why the work of this coalition is so vital,” Healey said at the NATO military alliance headquarters in Brussels.
He added that 200 military planners have been developing plans to deepen European involvement in Ukraine.
In a post on social media, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said that “Ukraine is ready for peace – one that is just and backed by strength”.
Ukrainian government officials and military analysts have said that Russian forces are preparing to launch a fresh military offensive in Ukraine in the coming weeks to strengthen the Kremlin’s negotiating position in ceasefire talks.
As usual with coalition gatherings, the United States did not take part.
The success of the coalition’s operation hinges on US backup with air power or other military assistance but US President Donald Trump’s administration has made no public commitment to provide support.
The Netherlands, Sweden and Finland underlined the key role of the United States.
“The United States is a crucial player still in guaranteeing lasting security” in Ukraine, Finnish Defence Minister Annit Häkkänen said.
His Swedish counterpart, Pål Jonson, said success in Ukraine requires “some form of US engagement” while Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans called US support “very important” but said the form it took might differ, depending on the chosen type of European mission in Ukraine.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said ministers were “trying to keep the United States on board”.
On Friday, representatives from about 50 countries will gather at NATO to drum up military support for Ukraine.
That meeting will be chaired by the UK and Germany.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has accused Russia on Thursday of working systematically in China to recruit fighters for its war in Ukraine.
China had warned Ukraine on Thursday against making “irresponsible” remarks after Zelenskiy said Ukrainian intelligence had revealed at least 155 Chinese citizens were fighting for Russia.
“It is crystal clear that these are not isolated cases but rather systematic Russian efforts, in particular on the territory and within the jurisdiction of China, to recruit citizens of that country for the war,” Zelenskiy wrote on X, referring to the captured men.
He posted footage of an interrogation with one of them, which Reuters could not independently verify.
“Everything necessary must be done to ensure that Russia has no such and similar opportunities to prolong and expand the war,” Zelenskiy added.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected Zelenskiy’s claim and described China as taking “a balanced position”.
China, which has declared a “no-limits” partnership with Russia, has tried to position itself as an actor in attempts to negotiate an end to the war.
with Reuters
AP
