British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans to deploy a peacekeeping contingent of approximately 10,000 troops to Ukraine, according to The Times.

Senior government sources confirmed that Starmer had secured the support of a significantly larger coalition than the three countries that initially proposed sending ground forces.

About 35 countries have agreed to provide weapons and support for the peacekeeping operation in Ukraine.
The proposed contingent is expected to be primarily composed of British and French troops.

A government source stated that preparations are already in an advanced stage but declined to disclose specifics due to the risk of sensitive information leaking to Russia.

Military officials estimate that the total force could exceed 10,000 troops, with about 35 countries pledging to provide weapons, logistics, and intelligence support for the mission, referred to as a “stretching force.”

The force is intended to serve as a deterrent against future Russian aggression in the event of a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.

Following a conference call with 29 world leaders, Starmer confirmed that a meeting of military commanders will be held in London this week as the peacekeeping plans enter the “operational phase.”

At a press conference, Prime Minister Starmer called for “immediate global action,” emphasizing the need for peace efforts and additional sanctions against Russia.

He reported that during a recent conversation between French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, new commitments were made on peacekeeping initiatives and sanctions enforcement against Russia.

Rejecting Putin’s “yes, but” approach to the ceasefire proposed by Kyiv, Starmer stressed that the Russian leader would have to sit down at the negotiating table “sooner or later.”

“Sooner or later, Putin will have to come to the table. So this is the moment. Let the guns fall silent, let the barbaric attacks on Ukraine once and for all stop, and agree to a ceasefire now,” he stated.

In late February, reports indicated that Britain was prepared to send both ground and air components to Ukraine as part of its expanded military commitment.