LONDON, March 24. /TASS/. The United Kingdom believes it is important to secure US support to the so-called coalition of the willing that will ensure Ukraine’s security after the conflict, UK Secretary of State for Defense John Healey told the House of Commons.
"The prime minister has made clear that security arrangements or guarantees in Ukraine in the context of a negotiated peace will need US support. I made the same point strongly in my discussions with [US] Secretary [of Defense Pete] Hegseth," he said.
"My job now as defense secretary is to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position by continuing UK military aid and encouraging other nations to do more, and to develop alongside with the French the plans for a multinational support to keep the long-term security of any peace in Ukraine," the defense secretary added.
On March 20, a meeting of military commanders from the "coalition of the willing" countries was held in London to discuss operational details of sending troops to Ukraine. On the same day, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer told military planners that plans were being drawn up for land, sea and air operations in Ukraine to ensure compliance with the post-conflict peace deal.
According to UK media, London and Paris hope to form a "peacekeeping force" of 10,000 to 30,000 troops ostensibly to enforce a peace deal on Ukraine. At the same time, UK Air Force fighter jets could patrol Ukrainian airspace, taking off from Polish territory. According to The Daily Telegraph, the air cover may be provided by NATO countries on a rotating basis.
US President Donald Trump said on February 18 he would not mind the deployment of European forces in Ukraine, but Washington was not planning to send its troops there.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on March 12 that the presence of NATO troops under any flag and in any capacity on Ukrainian soil is a threat to Russia. According to him, Moscow will not accept it under any circumstances.