British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned Vladimir Putin that any breach of a peace deal with Ukraine will result in “severe consequences.” As part of the efforts, western military planners are drawing up plans to deploy forces to support Ukrainian troops, both on land, sea, and air.
Starmer said Putin would not be allowed to dictate how Kyiv defends itself and reiterated that allied forces would not replace Ukrainian troops but rather reinforce their capabilities. He stated that this plan aims to ensure the peace by making it clear that there will be consequences for Russia’s actions.
The meeting of officials from 31 countries, including France, Poland, and Canada, came ahead of continuing negotiations between the US, Ukraine, and Russia. The talks are expected to resume in Saudi Arabia on Sunday with a focus on implementing a 30-day pause in targeting energy infrastructure.
Starmer acknowledged that Putin’s demands for Ukraine’s demilitarisation and the west’s withdrawal of military aid were “risky and ineffective.” Instead, he emphasized the need for Ukraine to be secure and sovereign, allowing it to decide its own defense capabilities. The planning is based on the assumption that Ukrainian forces will continue to build up in strength.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/20/keir-starmer-warns-vladimir-putin-of-severe-consequences-if-he-breaches-peace-deal-ukraine