Armed conflict

UK Leads 30-Nation Coalition for Ukraine Peacekeeping Force

MAR 20 2025·Updated MAR 21 2025

Story

Above: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a meeting at Downing Street 10 on March 17, 2025, in London. Image credit: Jordan Pettitt/WPA Pool/Getty Images News via Getty Images

The Facts

The United Kingdom hosted a closed meeting of senior military leaders on Thursday at the Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood to develop operational plans for a proposed peacekeeping force in Ukraine, with more than 30 countries expected to contribute to the coalition.
The Kyiv Independent
Sky News
BBC News
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are leading the initiative, which could involve between 10K to 30K troops, though exact numbers remain unconfirmed, and the force would require significant air and maritime capabilities.
BBC News
Sky News
The coalition aims to provide security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a cease-fire, with participating nations offering various forms of support ranging from direct troop deployment to military equipment and other forms of assistance.
NPR Online News
FOX News
Several countries including Ireland, Canada, and Australia have indicated potential participation, while others like Poland and Finland have expressed a preference for maintaining troops on their own territory to deter Russian aggression.
The Kyiv Independent
BBC News
Russian President Vladimir Putin has explicitly stated that Moscow will not tolerate the presence of any NATO member troops in Ukraine, regardless of their role, creating a significant obstacle to the coalition's implementation.
Euromaidan Press
Al Jazeera
The United States has shown reluctance to provide necessary air cover or security guarantees for the peacekeeping force, which coalition members consider crucial for the mission's success.
Sky News
The Kyiv Independent

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

This "coalition of the willing" represents Europe's commitment to shouldering more responsibility for regional security and demonstrates a concrete plan to guarantee Ukraine's future safety, while showing unified support against Russian aggression.

BBC News

NPR Online News

Narrative B

The proposed peacekeeping force constitutes unwanted Western military expansion near Russian borders and undermines peace negotiations while lacking crucial US support and potentially escalating tensions in the region. This is a reckless move by Europe and other Western partners.

The Telegraph

The Moscow Times