UK PM Leads Virtual Summit on Ukraine Troop Deployment
In a sunny afternoon scene that could have been straight out of a superhero movie, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer chaired a virtual pow‑wow with more than 30 European leaders from the “Coalition of the Willing.” The goal? To decide whether a few thousand boots will walk onto the Ukrainian soil in a peace‑keeping mission.
The High‑Level Comedy of Diplomacy
- Starmer & Macron lead the charge. They chatted about adding the “several thousand boots on the ground” to the mix, hoping to give Ukraine a sturdy shield.
- Russia stays stubborn. Kremlin’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov cut through on state TV: “No long‑term deals here unless Russia’s security gets the green light. No peace talk if Russian‑speaking folks in Ukraine aren’t respected.”
- US takes a different route. President Donald Trump opted for air support instead of boots, ringing out a “no ground troops” policy.
Pump‑Up Plan for a Peace Summit
- Swiss calm. Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis floated offering Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin “immunity” to drop into Geneva.
- Italian nod. Antonio Tajani backed a Geneva location, citing Italy’s peace‑building track record.
- Last time, Istanbul hosted the talk‑show, hoping a neutral backdrop would keep folks from seasoning the conversation.
The UK’s Playbook
Downing Street issued an upbeat note after the Starmer‑Macron meeting: “Unity in practice. We’re sharpening sanctions to squeeze Putin tight until he deals with the invasion.” The spokesman added:
“The PM started by applauding the constructive vibe and the shared objective of a fair, lasting peace for Ukraine. Next we’ll pull the US teams together to beef up security guarantees and prep a reassurance force if hostilities calm.”
“We’ll keep the pressure on via sanctions, persuading Putin to see real action is mandatory.”
“Updates coming soon – as we keep steering the convoy toward progress.”
What’s Next?
Expect more fizz here: the coalition’s working groups are slated to sync up with their US counterparts, roll out stronger safeguards, and keep pressing the fine line between diplomacy and deterrence. Stay tuned as the UK, the EU, and the U.S. navigate this diplomatic roller‑coaster.
