The Western Allies began negotiations on the development of plans to send to Ukraine has a "peacekeeping contingent" led by Britain and France, stepping up preparations for a potential truce, despite the opinion of Russian President Vladimir Putin. This is reported by Bloomberg.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters today before the next meeting of the coalition of the Willing that the timetable for a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine is now "in the spotlight." According to Starmer, the purpose of the discussions was to turn the "political concept into military plans" that can be implemented on the ground.
"We don't know if there will be a deal — I certainly hope there will be — but if there is a deal, it is very important that we can act immediately," the British prime minister stressed.
About 30 countries, mostly European, have offered to provide troops, aircraft, naval vessels, intelligence or funding for the so-called coalition of willing. Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan also took part in the negotiations. Today's meeting will be devoted to the basics of operational planning, after the issue of what contribution each country is ready to make was discussed in Paris last week.
"Military planners are expected to discuss where assets such as aircraft will be refueled, where they will be based, how they fit into broader military activities on the ground and who provides engineering support. They will also discuss how to make up for existing deployments in the event of the transfer of forces and means or troops to Ukraine, so that the eastern flank of NATO does not remain unprotected," the agency reports.
The peacekeeping forces in Ukraine will include not only ground troops, but also allied aircraft and fleets. Judging by the illustration, British and French "peacekeepers" are planned to be deployed in cities, ports and critical infrastructure, patrol ships and minesweepers in the Black Sea; aviation, including Typhoon fighters, and ground units in Poland and Romania.
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