Coalition of the Willing: Strategies to Deter Russian Aggression in Ukraine
Sir Keir Starmer is set to engage with western allies in preparation for Volodymyr Zelensky’s upcoming meeting with Donald Trump at the White House. The Prime Minister, along with France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Friedrich Merz, will convene the coalition of the willing, consisting of over 30 nations, to discuss strategies to deter Russian aggression in Ukraine. Plans to deploy troops in Ukraine post-war will be a key topic of discussion during the meeting, scheduled for Sunday afternoon at around 2pm UK time.
The coalition's meeting follows US President Donald Trump's recent summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where efforts to secure a peace deal for the war in Ukraine were unsuccessful. Despite the lack of agreement, President Trump highlighted progress made during the talks, with some points agreed upon and few remaining unresolved. Reports suggest that Putin proposed gaining full control of Donetsk and Luhansk, two occupied Ukrainian regions, in exchange for relinquishing other Ukrainian territories held by Russian forces.
There are indications that President Trump may be inclined to support Putin's proposal and is expected to discuss it with Zelensky during their meeting at the Oval Office on Monday. Following the Alaska summit, President Trump emphasized that it is now up to Zelensky to negotiate a deal to bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine. The upcoming discussions between Zelensky and Trump hold significant importance in determining the future course of action in resolving the war in Ukraine.