IRIA News

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Senior military officials from over 30 nations convened in the UK to hammer out the framework for an international peacekeeping force in Ukraine, marking a pivotal moment in diplomatic efforts aimed at ending a war that has raged for more than three years.

The meeting, held at a British military base in Northwood outside London, signified a shift in Europe’s “operational phase” of a potential post-war stabilization plan, even as ceasefire details are still being finalized.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the European military leaders and emphasized the urgency of proactive planning, stating, “We hope there will be a deal but what I do know is if there is a deal, the time for planning is now. It’s not after a deal is reached.”

The meeting comes amid cautious optimism following a U.S.-brokered preliminary agreement between Ukraine and Russia for a limited ceasefire. U.S. President Donald Trump, in a rare diplomatic breakthrough, held discussions with both Kyiv and Moscow earlier this week. However, the proposed ceasefire is far from comprehensive, and many crucial aspects, including which targets will be exempt from attacks, remain unresolved.

Coalition of the willing

The emerging peacekeeping force is being organized by what has been termed a “coalition of the willing,” led primarily by the United Kingdom and France. French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that a coalition meeting would take place in Paris next week, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in attendance.

The proposed force, described as a “reassurance force,” may consist of between 10,000 and 30,000 troops. However, troop commitments from each of the participating nations remain uncertain. To date, only the U.K. and France have publicly committed to sending forces, while other nations such as Canada, Australia, and Finland have expressed tentative support without concrete pledges.

Starmer laid out the planning framework, which he said has been divided into four operational domains: “the sea in one scenario, the sky, obviously land and borders, and regeneration.”

He emphasized the importance of backing any deal with a credible enforcement mechanism: “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 (Russian President Vladimir) Putin will breach.”

Zelenskyy’s conditions

Speaking from Norway, Zelenskyy said he had pushed for a broader ceasefire but was willing to work with the United States to limit attacks on civilian infrastructure. “I raised this issue with President Trump and said that our side would identify what we consider to be civilian infrastructure. I don’t want there to be any misunderstanding about what the sides are agreeing on.”

Despite the diplomatic activity, the war remains active. Overnight, both sides launched hundreds of drone attacks, highlighting the fragility of the ceasefire initiative.

Ukraine’s central city of Kropyvnytskyi endured its most severe aerial assault of the conflict, with nearly 50 drones causing significant damage and injuring at least 14 civilians. “In a cruel twist, enemy drones hit Myru Street (‘Peace Street’ in English),” said Andrii Raikovych, head of the regional administration.

Russia also suffered its most intense drone assault in the Saratov region, where over 50 drones were intercepted. The attack damaged a hospital, two kindergartens, a school, and dozens of homes in Engels, a city near Russia’s key base for nuclear-capable strategic bombers, according to regional governor Roman Busargin.

Mounting casualties

As the war drags on, estimates of military casualties continue to rise. According to the U.K. Defense Ministry, Russia has suffered around 900,000 total casualties, with up to 250,000 fatalities, a sharp increase from previous estimates. These figures, however, cannot be independently verified and differ greatly from official Russian numbers, which have remained static since 2023 and reported only 6,000 deaths.

Ukraine’s losses are similarly shrouded in uncertainty. Zelenskyy recently told NBC News that over 46,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed, and more than 350,000 have been wounded — figures which may also be underreported.

Political and strategic hurdles

While momentum builds for a post-conflict stabilization force, significant geopolitical challenges remain. Russia has explicitly stated it will not accept NATO forces on Ukrainian soil, raising concerns about the composition and perceived neutrality of any peacekeeping deployment.

Moreover, President Trump has yet to confirm whether the United States would provide a military “backstop” to support the mission, a point Starmer says is critical to the plan’s viability. “The plan won’t work without that U.S. backstop,” Starmer warned.

Negotiations are expected to continue Monday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where Russian and American representatives will meet to refine ceasefire terms and technical details. Zelenskyy confirmed that his team will also be present in Riyadh and that the U.S. will facilitate “shuttle diplomacy” between Kyiv and Moscow in the days ahead.

Road ahead

Despite signs of progress, the path to peace remains complex and uncertain. The partial ceasefire, if it holds, may serve as a stepping stone toward a broader cessation of hostilities. But without clear terms, robust enforcement, and international consensus on troop deployments, experts warn that the conflict could easily reignite.

The military meeting in Northwood signals that the international community is preparing for both hope and hardship. Whether this moment marks the beginning of the end of Europe’s bloodiest conflict since World War II remains to be seen.