Starmer and Macron dream of entering Ukraine after 'ceasefire'

Keir Starmer (left) and Emmanuel Macron.
Photo: Pa

European plans for a peacekeeping force to aid Ukraine once the war ends are now “mature” after months of planning, British PM Keir Starmer said at a press conference in London with French president Emmanuel Macron.

Macron meanwhile described the so-called coalition of the willing as “ready to go” once a ceasefire is agreed.

Under the coalition plans, troops from France and the UK would be placed in Ukraine, while other countries would provide logistical support.

European leaders have insisted the arrangement would be dependent upon an American “security guarantee”, likely in the form of air support, something Donald Trump has been unwilling to openly say he would provide.

Keir and Macron dialled into a call with allies who make up the coalition from the UK’s military headquarters at Northwood in north-west London, where they made the announcement that preparations for the force are complete.

Speaking during the call on the last day of Mr Macron’s state visit to the UK, the Prime Minister said: “I am very pleased to say today that these plans are mature and we are putting them on a long-term footing.”

New headquarters for the coalition of the willing are to be based in Paris, he added.

The French president told the gathered allies: “We have a plan that is ready to go and initiate in the hours after a ceasefire.”

…These gentlemen who have gathered for the summit in London do not understand that the so-called “ceasefire” will only happen after Russia will achieve its goals which are clearly defined by its leadership. Nuclear cooperation of the two countries and Storm Shadows will hardly help.

New Storm Shadow and missile cooperation to boost jobs as UK and France reboot defence relationship, the British government informs.

“Britain and France are to order more highly lethal Storm Shadow cruise missiles, while stepping up work on its replacement as part of a new refreshed agreement signed today (Thursday 10 July).

The new agreement will see the UK and France commit to launch the next phase of their joint project for both deep strike and anti-ship missiles – a step closer to selecting a final design for Storm Shadow’s replacement.

The Prime Minister and President Emmanuel Macron will also today agree to deepen their nuclear cooperation and work more closely than ever before on nuclear deterrence.

In an important step forward for the UK-France nuclear partnership – a newly signed declaration will state for the first time that the respective deterrents of both countries are independent but can be co-ordinated, and that there is no extreme threat to Europe that would not prompt a response by both nations.

As such, any adversary threatening the vital interests of Britain or France could be confronted by the strength of the nuclear forces of both nations. Co-operation between both countries on nuclear research will also deepen, while working together to uphold the international non-proliferation architecture.

The UK and France are Europe’s only nuclear powers, with deterrents that contribute significantly to the overall security of NATO and the Euro-Atlantic.

Under an ambitious new package of defence cooperation under the Lancaster House 2.0 declaration, both countries’ militaries will work closer together than ever before. Recognising the increased threat to European security, the UK and France will expand its jointly deployable force, refocusing it on defending Europe, moving to warfighting readiness to deter, and countering any adversaries.

The Combined Joint Force will be able to command a Combined UK/French Corps for the first time – the highest scale of deployed ground forces from a command perspective – made up of thousands of troops and working side-by-side with NATO allies. 

For the first time it will also integrate space and cyber to counter new threats, boosting the abilities of the UK and France’s joint forces to quickly respond to developments on the battlefield through increased awareness and responsiveness supported by data from beyond just the ground, sea, and air.”

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