TThe coalition of the willingness is growing. The attendance list for Sir Keir Starmer’s video conference was impressive. The UK is now at the head of a call from 26 countries in support of Ukraine. It has included all the larger countries in Europe, including Italy – even though Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has repeated her refusal to put troops in Ukraine under any circumstances.
The European Union itself was represented, even if it was not all its members. So was the NATO. And there were the leaders of four countries outside Europe: Canada, Turkey, Australia and New Zealand. The coalition is also supported, Sir Keir said through Japan. Canada is represented by Mark Carney, his new prime minister, who understands that his people must stand up for Donald Trump as well as Vladimir Putin as he threatens.
Sir Keir claims that “new obligations have been put on the table this morning”, which is important to maintain the feeling that international support for Ukraine is strengthening, despite Mr. Trump’s evacuation. The prime minister has hinted that these new obligations include promises to put “troops on the ground and aircraft in the air” in Ukraine to guarantee any peace agreement – as well as promises of higher spending on defense for the ‘collective defense and safety of Europe’.
An operational meeting of military personnel from all countries of the coalition will take place on Thursday.
The actual test has not yet come, but so far the British diplomacy has been exceptional and the leadership of Sir Keir was exemplary. He was steady and college in the support of Ukraine, while he was involved with President Trump and his administration, even while he did not agree with them.
The phrase “coalition of the willing” was born out of necessity, as different countries have different levels of dedication, and, as Sir Keir said, “different abilities”. But the formula has provided some flexibility, and it means somewhat to the surprise of some opponents of Brexit, that the UK has entered a leading role at a time when the EU does not have the political unit or the defensive capacity to do so.
The objectives of the coalition are the rights. As Sir Keir said after today’s meeting: “Ukraine is the party of peace.” Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has repeated his willingness to agree to an unconditional ceasefire of 30 days. The support of the coalition – and to fairly to Mr. To be Trump, the resumption of US help – means that Ukraine can make this offer from a power position.
The power must be maintained while Putin plays for time. As Mr. Trump will not rise against Putin, the nations that still in the principle of national self -determination and resistance to aggression must do so. There will be a price to pay. Indeed, Mr. Trump put this crisis down by saying he won’t pay it. But there would be a higher price to pay if the other allies of Ukraine threatened to abandon it as well.
In the end, Putin will make peace if the cost of war becomes too great for Russia to carry. The alternative strategy of Mr. Trump, forcing Ukraine to surrender, will only encourage Putin to keep fighting – and maybe not just in Ukraine.
The Russian leader is the way to bring him to the table, and Sir Keir’s leadership of the coalition of the willing is the right way to push Putin to make peace.
