British and French Military Chiefs Strengthen Support for Ukraine Amid Ongoing Conflict

This week, military leaders from Britain and France met in Kyiv with their Ukrainian counterparts to deliberate on how to enhance the Ukrainian army's capabilities as part of what is being referred to as Sir Keir Starmer’s “coalition of the willing.” Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the chief of the UK defence staff, attended these discussions aimed at evaluating the structure and potential expansion of Ukraine's military forces in the context of a possible peace settlement between President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Vladimir Putin.

Admiral Radakin expressed the UK's unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine and emphasized the importance of achieving a just and lasting peace. During the meetings, the goal was to determine ways to further leverage the existing strengths of the Ukrainian military, positioning them to more effectively deter Russian hostility. He was encouraged by the evident unity among European and international allies throughout the discussions.

Next week, Defence Secretary John Healey is set to lead a meeting in Brussels with representatives from a coalition of around 30 nations, a collaboration initiated by the UK Prime Minister and French President Emmanuel Macron to reinforce backing for Ukraine. Following recent talks between Sir Keir Starmer and President Macron, both leaders acknowledged that notable progress had been made by the coalition throughout the week.

The focus of these upcoming discussions will be on planning the next steps to establish a military force designed to deter Russia once a ceasefire is achieved. Healey contrasted the solidarity of the coalition with Russia, which he described as isolated except for its alignment with North Korea. As discussions around a ceasefire unfold, he affirmed a commitment to intensifying military planning, examining potential support in air, sea, and land forces to facilitate a sustainable peace in Ukraine. Moreover, he stressed the importance of remembering the ongoing conflict as they prepare for peace efforts, indicating a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group with around 50 nations will also take place next week to enhance military support for Kyiv amidst the continuing Russian assaults.