The Coalition of the Willing will meet tomorrow as world leaders
drive forward action to support a just and enduring peace for
Ukraine.
Around 25 countries, including European partners, the EU
Commission, NATO, Canada, Ukraine, Australia and New Zealand are
expected to join the virtual meeting tomorrow morning.
The Prime Minister will tell leaders that now is the time for
concrete commitments as President Putin tries to play pointless
games with President Trump's peace plan.
He will say that countries need to ratchet up economic pressure
on Russia, to force Putin into negotiations, in the short term
and be prepared to support a just and enduring peace in Ukraine
over the long term and continue to ramp up our military support
to Ukraine to defend themselves against increasing Russian
attacks.
Prime Minister said:
“We can't allow President Putin to play games with President
Trump's deal. The Kremlin's complete disregard for President
Trump's ceasefire proposal only serves to demonstrate that Putin
is not serious about peace.
“If Russia finally comes to the table, then we must be ready to
monitor a ceasefire to ensure it is a serious, and enduring
peace, if they don't, then we need to strain every sinew to ramp
up economic pressure on Russia to secure an end to this war.
“Putin is trying to delay, saying there must be a painstaking
study before a ceasefire can take place, but the world needs to
see action, not a study or empty words and pointless conditions.
“My message to the Kremlin could not be clearer: stop the
barbaric attacks on Ukraine, once and for all, and agree to a
ceasefire now. Until then we will keep working around the clock
to deliver peace.”
The call is expected to delve further into how countries plan to
contribute to the Coalition of the Willing, ahead of a military
planning session being held next week.
During the session tomorrow morning, leaders are expected to
receive an update on progress made at a Chiefs of Defence meeting
held in Paris on Tuesday, and updates from countries on efforts
to unlock further military aid for Ukraine. The Prime Minister
will also pay tribute to the collective European efforts to step
up.
The call follows a week of intensive diplomacy by UK ministers
after the Defence Secretary travelled to Paris to meet
counterparts from Germany, France, Poland and Italy, and the
Foreign Secretary travelled to Canada for G7 Foreign Ministers.
It also follows the Prime Minister's Lancaster House Summit held
a fortnight ago, where he again made clear that we must protect
our country in a dangerous new era, and deliver on the foundation
of security in the government's Plan for Change.
The government has already accelerated that work, announcing an
increase in defence spending to 2.5% of GDP from 2027, with an
ambition to reach 3% in the next parliament.
