UK Reports: Up to 20 More Countries Ready to Unite as Allies in Support of Ukraine

About 20 countries are considering joining a “coalition of the willing” to support Ukraine, according to UK officials. Most of these countries are from Europe and the Commonwealth. While not every nation may send troops, many could offer different kinds of support.

The UK and France are leading this initiative, which was discussed by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a summit with 18 European and Canadian leaders. Their goal is to help maintain any ceasefire in the ongoing conflict involving Russia and Ukraine.

Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, has strongly opposed this move, arguing that it would mean NATO’s direct involvement in the conflict against Russia.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is trying to improve its relationship with Washington after the US paused military aid and intelligence sharing, hoping to encourage President Zelensky to negotiate. Sir Keir emphasized that simply waiting for a deal between Ukraine and Russia would be a “big mistake.” He insists that if a deal does happen, it’s crucial to ensure Ukraine is in a strong position to defend it.

The discussions regarding security guarantees took place earlier this week. British officials remarked that it was still early in the process but were optimistic about countries showing interest in this coalition. They view it as a positive sign for future support.

The UK and France have proposed a one-month truce focusing on air, sea, and energy infrastructure, although Russia has rejected this suggestion. Recently, the UK announced a significant missile deal worth £1.6 billion for Ukraine and signed a contract with the Anglo-American firm Anduril to provide advanced attack drones.

In Washington, Defence Secretary John Healey met with his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, to discuss European defence spending. Healey emphasized that the UK is stepping up its contributions in response to US challenges. Hegseth acknowledged the UK as a “critical” partner and highlighted the importance of European leadership in NATO.

Additionally, the UK Ministry of Defence revealed another security deal worth nearly £30 million supporting Ukraine. This deal will supply advanced systems designed to monitor and strike targets, enhancing Ukraine’s capabilities against Russian actions in the Black Sea.

In a related development, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, convened an emergency defence summit in Brussels amid concerns about potential reductions in US security assistance for Europe. She proposed a substantial €800 billion defence package, stating that Europe must be able to protect itself and continue supporting Ukraine for lasting peace.

Ukraine’s President Zelensky expressed gratitude to European leaders for their backing, acknowledging that Ukraine does not feel alone in this struggle. Meanwhile, Turkey has indicated a willingness to join peacekeeping efforts, and Ireland’s Prime Minister has mentioned the possibility of Irish troops participating in peacekeeping missions, though not in a combat role. Australia’s Prime Minister has also expressed openness to sending troops to Ukraine as peacekeepers.

Despite these efforts, Russia has dismissed calls for a temporary ceasefire, insisting that any agreement must be final and comprehensive.

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