Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has issued a stark warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin, insisting that any breach of a ceasefire in Ukraine will incur “severe consequences”. Speaking at Northwood military headquarters in London on Thursday, Sir Keir, who met with defence officials from 31 allied countries, laid out plans to transform political intentions into concrete security measures designed to enforce any future peace deal in Ukraine.
At the high-level meeting – part of efforts to establish what has been dubbed a “coalition of the willing” – Sir Keir made it clear that the current security arrangements must be robust enough to deter any potential breaches. “It is vitally important we do that work because we know one thing for certain, which is a deal without anything behind it is something that Putin will breach. We know that because it happened before. I’m absolutely clear in my mind it will happen again,” he stated. The Prime Minister’s firm tone underscored his certainty that without enhanced security guarantees, any ceasefire agreement would be doomed to fail.
The military planning discussed at Northwood involves a comprehensive package of support to Ukraine – by air, sea and land – should a deal be reached. However, Sir Keir quickly ruled out the possibility of redeploying UK troops from commitments in other regions, such as Estonia, emphasising that Britain’s broader international responsibilities must not be compromised. “There’s no pulling back from our commitments to other countries,” he said, noting that the approach would reinforce NATO’s collective stance rather than weaken it. “The mood in the room was that this will help reinforce what we’re doing in NATO in other countries, so they see it as an opportunity rather than a question of moving troops around.”
In a speech delivered upon his arrival at the meeting, the Prime Minister recalled recent gatherings of international political leaders which had aimed to secure a collective agreement on defending any peace deal. “Last weekend and two weekends before that, we had groupings of international political leaders coming together to provide the political alignment and the collective agreement that we need to work together to ensure that any deal that is put in place is defended,” he said. “What’s happening here is turning that political intention into reality, the concept into plans.”
The urgency of these discussions comes as diplomatic efforts have faltered. Recent calls between US President Donald Trump, Mr Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky failed to produce the 30-day ceasefire envisaged by the White House. Instead, the Russian leader agreed to a suspension of attacks on energy infrastructure – a move that has not prevented reports of strikes on other civilian targets, including a hospital, according to Ukrainian sources.
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Foreign Secretary David Lammy also weighed in on the debate, insisting that Putin should not be given a “veto” over the presence of European peacekeepers in Ukraine should a deal be brokered. Speaking at a London business conference, Mr Lammy argued, “Putin should simply accept an unconditional ceasefire. That is the plan on the table, let’s get on with it, what are we waiting for? What we certainly can’t do is give Putin a veto over the security architecture that will govern that peace.” His remarks came after discussions with his US counterpart Marco Rubio, further underlining the transatlantic consensus on the matter.
Downing Street confirmed that military leaders would be engaging in “granular planning” regarding the details of any potential deployment, as Western nations seek to safeguard Ukraine’s sovereignty. Meanwhile, Mr Zelensky has optimistically claimed that a “lasting peace can be achieved this year” following his recent call with Mr Trump. However, even as diplomatic channels continue to be explored, new reports have emerged of overnight drone attacks in the Kirovohrad region, leaving 10 people wounded – including four children – and causing extensive damage to homes, a church and local infrastructure.
British military intelligence has estimated that between 200,000 and 250,000 Russian soldiers have been killed since the invasion began in 2022 – marking the country’s largest losses since the Second World War. The Ministry of Defence has warned that the Russian military leadership appears willing to absorb high casualty rates so long as it does not affect domestic support for the war, with overall casualties now estimated at around 900,000. As the international community braces for further developments, Sir Keir Starmer’s warning sends a clear message: any breach of a peace deal will not be tolerated, and Putin will face consequences that extend far beyond diplomatic rebuke.
