Defence Chiefs Meet in London to Discuss Post-Ceasefire Peacekeeping in Ukraine

Defence Chiefs from Western countries meet in London to plan peacekeeping in Ukraine post-ceasefire with Russia.

Defence Chiefs of some thirty Western countries gathered in London on Thursday (March 20, 2025) for a “planning” meeting to discuss peacekeeping in Ukraine in a post-ceasefire scenario with Russia.

This was “a chance for the thirty nations that represent the ‘coalition of the willing’ to come here to start the military planning as to what that force might look like”, Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard said in a broadcast interview to the BBC.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer had said on Saturday (March 15, 2025) that the “coalition of the willing” – which is a name given to a group of countries, headed by the U.K. and France, which would help keep the peace following any ceasefire in Ukraine - was entering its “operational phase”.  

On Tuesday (March 18, 2025), Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would agree to a partial 30-day ceasefire but ruled out a complete ceasefire for the period, saying foreign intelligence sharing and military aid to Kyiv had to end

Thursday’s (March 20, 2025) meeting in London is the outcome of a virtual meeting held on Saturday (March 15, 2025) between the countries on a post-ceasefire peacekeeping plan in Ukraine.

Thursday’s (March 20, 2025) meeting agenda in London included details on logistics such as which country would offer aircrafts, where they be re- fuelled and so forth, according to Mr. Pollard.

“Because we want the ‘coalition of the willing’ to be a credible force that will allow Ukraine to enjoy a lasting peace,” he said.