Starmer’s Coalition Plan for Ukraine Gains Momentum
Sir Keir Starmer has received a significant boost in his efforts to establish a “coalition of the willing” aimed at overseeing peace in Ukraine, with diplomatic sources indicating to The i Paper that Germany is likely to support this initiative. However, it remains uncertain whether Berlin will match the troop commitments made by the UK and France. The deployment of German soldiers outside NATO borders requires approval from the Bundestag, making it a complex political issue for the incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
In a related development, Ireland has signaled its willingness to contribute troops under its long-standing policy of military neutrality, particularly if involved in UN peacekeeping missions. A defense spokesperson remarked to The Telegraph, “We do not believe we should recuse ourselves from such conversations in the event where a peace deal was agreed.” Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed that he would consider sending troops to Ukraine, having previously supplied Bushmaster armored vehicles to aid in the country’s defense against the Russian invasion.
The potential inclusion of Germany in the coalition would represent a major diplomatic victory for both Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, uniting Europe’s three largest powers in this critical effort. This coalition aims to present a unified front to former President Donald Trump, seeking his agreement to provide a backstop of US security guarantees that would ensure the effectiveness of any peacekeeping force.
Dr. Canan Atilgan from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, which is affiliated with but operates independently of Merz’s CDU party, stated, “Germany will definitely join the coalition of the willing in supporting Ukraine. The specific format and contributions will need to be finalized.” Both Merz and the current outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz are expected to focus on enhancing military spending in Germany, with plans to seek the outgoing parliament’s agreement on a special emergency fund this week, as reported by The i Paper.
Expanding the Coalition Beyond Europe
Starmer has also hinted that he may reach out to Middle Eastern allies of the UK to broaden the coalition’s participation beyond Europe. While he did not specify which countries, the UK has longstanding alliances with nations such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Bahrain. During discussions in Downing Street on Tuesday, he updated India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar on his initiatives but did not extend an invitation for India to join the peacekeeping force, given its historical ties with Russia and its neutral stance on the Ukraine conflict.
Any involvement from countries like India would demonstrate to Vladimir Putin that the peacekeeping forces are not an extension of NATO, potentially easing tensions. Starmer has pledged to deploy “boots on the ground and planes in the air” as part of the peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, aligning closely with proposals from Macron. Together, they are spearheading efforts to broaden the “coalition of the willing,” aiming to convince Trump that Europe is capable of shouldering the responsibility for maintaining peace on the continent following any agreement to end the war in Ukraine.
However, Starmer has consistently emphasized that the UK cannot commit troops without guaranteed security assurances from the US. The hope is that this approach will persuade Trump to offer US backing in the form of security guarantees, ensuring that Russia cannot violate the peace agreement and launch further attacks on Ukraine or elsewhere. Notably, Trump recently declined to guarantee a US backstop during discussions with Starmer in Washington, DC, suggesting that a deal for mineral extraction from Ukraine might be sufficient to deter further Russian aggression. Both Trump and Vice President JD Vance have expressed skepticism regarding the “coalition of the willing” plan since Starmer’s announcement on Sunday.
