Prime Minister Andy Burnham and allied leaders have reaffirmed preparations for a multinational force that could deploy to Ukraine after a credible cessation of hostilities.
The commitment was included in a statement issued after a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in Kyiv and by video conference on Monday, co-chaired by Burnham, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The coalition said it would continue preparing the Multinational-Force Ukraine as part of a wider package of security guarantees intended to support the country once a ceasefire enters into force.
Force would deploy only after hostilities cease
The announcement does not mean British or other coalition troops are being deployed to Ukraine now.
The official statement says the force would deploy only once a credible cessation of hostilities was in place and would form part of wider politically and legally binding security guarantees for Ukraine.
No new details were announced on Monday about the size of the force or the contribution individual countries would make.
The multinational force itself is not a newly created initiative. Preparations have been under way for months, and the UK announced in July that a senior British officer had taken command of the force, which is intended to operate after hostilities end.
Allies promise more military support
The coalition also agreed to increase military assistance to Ukraine and described strengthening the country's air defences as an urgent priority.
Leaders committed to greater cooperation with Ukraine's defence industry and to sharing relevant technologies, including through the Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition.
The statement followed renewed Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, which the coalition condemned.
Burnham separately urged allies during the meeting to do everything possible to strengthen Ukraine's air defences.
Further sanctions against Russia
Coalition leaders also promised to increase pressure on Russia's military-industrial complex and organisations supporting it.
They said further action would target sanctions circumvention and Russia's so-called Shadow Fleet, which Western governments accuse Moscow of using to help maintain oil revenues despite international restrictions.
The coalition said sanctions and wider economic measures had already deprived Russia's war effort of at least $495 billion since February 2022, although that figure was presented by the coalition itself.
Call for immediate ceasefire
The leaders reiterated their support for what they described as a comprehensive, just and lasting peace and called on Russia to agree to a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire beginning from the current line of contact.
They praised Zelenskyy's stated willingness to enter meaningful peace talks and said long-term security guarantees would be necessary to deter renewed Russian aggression after any ceasefire.
The meeting took place on the 35th anniversary of the restoration of Ukrainian independence and during Burnham's first overseas visit since becoming Prime Minister.
Existing plans developed further
The Coalition of the Willing has been developing the Multinational-Force Ukraine for several months.
A previous coalition statement in July said the force was ready to operate on land, in the air and at sea at Ukraine's request once a credible cessation of hostilities had been established, with exercises planned to rehearse its deployment.
Monday's statement therefore represents a reaffirmation and continuation of those preparations rather than a decision to send forces into the country during the current fighting.