By GB News (World News) | Created at 2025-03-03 14:36:17 | Updated at 2025-03-03 20:18:51
5 hours ago
Prime Minister Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are pushing for a ‘Europe Plus’ coalition to protect Ukraine in the event of a peace deal.
It comes after US leader Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky locked horns over the war with Trump doubling down on his demand of Ukraine to ‘cut a deal or we’re out’.
The US has allocated €114billion in bilateral aid since the conflict began, nearly four times as much the next biggest donor Germany (€28.9 billion).
However, Europe’s cumulative aid totals over €130billion, €15billion more than the US.
Total bilateral aid allocated to Ukraine in € billion
Total bilateral aid allocated to Ukraine in € billion
GBN
Recognising a deal may be forced on Ukraine imminently,Starmer and Macron are now organising a ‘coalition of the willing’ to help protect whatever deal is cut between Trump and Putin.
The coalition would see troops sent to Ukraine as a peacekeeping force to uphold whatever agreement is reached.
Similar to the oft cited ‘European Army’, the coalition could also involve nations like Turkey and Canada, the thinking being that if Russia broke a peace deal and continued the invasion it would risk going to war with a powerful alliance of western countries.
The movement would also send a united message from the West to dictators around the world, something democracies are keen to do after the Kremlin announced the ‘west is falling apart’ today.
Keir Starmer welcomed Emmanuel Macron to Lancaster House yesterday afternoon
PA
It is unclear who has signed up to the coalition at present, but Starmer revealed a ‘number of countries’ had agreed to join the initiative at a summit of 19 international leaders in London’s Lancaster House yesterday.
France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Sweden, Finland, Canada, Norway, Denmark, Turkey, Belgium and representatives from the EU and NATO were all present at the summit.
It is also not yet clear what sort of deal the coalition would be protecting. President Macron has unveiled plans for a one-month ceasefire, but Starmer has been quick to say ‘no agreement has been reached yet’.
Commentators have said how with a multination coalition behind them, nations like France and the UK are trying to wrestle the initiative in their favour and meaningfully impact the terms of a peace agreement currently being decided by Russian and US officials in Saudi Arabia.
European nations are rallying around the coalition as they lose trust in Trump prioritising Ukraine's interests over Putin’s.
Yesterday's major summit of world leaders in London
PA
Other have suggested the ‘Europe Plus’ movement is being driven to try and entice the US back to a negotiating table that includes Ukraine.
If Europe guarantees it will protect a peace deal, this opens up some breathing space for Zelensky and Trump to restart a dialogue around ending the war.
Combined with the fact much of Europe is making noises about raising defence spending, this could persuade Trump peace is possible.
In theory, the President could scale back aid but also commit to protecting the coalition if Russia violated the peace deal in the future, saving American taxpayer dollars but also talking the talk when it comes to rebutting Putin.
There is of course still the possibility of Trump getting his $500billion mineral deal which would sweeten the deal and allow Trump to easily show the American public there is something in it for them.
It comes as Trump meets senior advisors today to discuss cancelling aid signed off under the Biden administration.
Whether Trump is serious about cancelling vital aid to Ukraine after one (admittedly very public) argument remains to be seen. Commentators have said it is likely to be as symbolic as it is material.
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PICTURED: The planned site of the minerals deal signing after Zelensky was ordered to leave the White House
REUTERS
The ‘coalition of the willing’ was part of Starmer’s four point plan he outlined after Sunday’s summit.
His plan for peace also included the continuation of military aid to Ukraine, a commitment for Ukraine to be present at peace talks and boosting Ukraine's defence capabilities to deter future Russian aggression.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman told reporters today: “You heard obviously from the Prime Minister yesterday and indeed over the weekend and summit yesterday, agreed some important steps forward and the Prime Minister outlined a four-step plan there…
“There is intense work taking place to take forward that work. I think as the PM also said yesterday, we also want to keep up this momentum. The summit yesterday [led to] an important set of conclusions.
“There’s going to be various options on the table which are now subject to further discussion with both the US and European partners.”
While a united coalition is undoubtedly a benefit for Zelensky, the Ukrainian leader will be aware that even the combined armies of the coalition pale in comparison to that of Russia's.
The embattled President has suggested a force of 200,000 would be needed to keep the peace, but ex-Army chiefs have warned Britain could send 30,000 at a push.
Even with larger armies like Poland on side (200,000), commentators have stressed how difficult it would be to deploy a 'coalition of the willing's' forces and for it be a real deterrent to Putin.
