UK hosts global military talks on Ukraine peacekeeping amid partial-ceasefire negotiations

“We hope there will be a deal but what I do know is if there is a deal, the time for planning is now,” Starmer stated at a military planning meeting in Northwood, near London. “It’s not after a deal is reached.”

“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,” he said, as per AP.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that a “coalition of the willing” would meet Thursday in Paris, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in attendance.

Ukraine and Russia tentatively agree on limited ceasefire

Ukraine and Russia reached a preliminary understanding on a limited ceasefire Wednesday, following discussions between US President Donald Trump and both nations’ leaders. However, key details—such as the start date and which targets would be excluded from attacks—remain unresolved.

Speaking in Norway on Thursday, Zelenskyy reiterated his preference for a broader ceasefire but expressed willingness to cooperate with the US to prevent strikes on energy infrastructure and civilian sites. “I raised this issue with President Trump and clarified that our side will identify what we consider to be civilian infrastructure,” he said.  “I don’t want there to be any misunderstanding about what the sides are agreeing on.

Diplomatic efforts continue following Saudi Arabia talks

The tentative ceasefire emerged after Putin rejected Trump’s proposal for a comprehensive 30-day truce.

Negotiators from Moscow and Washington are set to meet Monday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, according to Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Sergei Ushakov. Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukrainian representatives would also meet with US officials in Saudi Arabia to discuss logistical details, with the US expected to facilitate “shuttle diplomacy” between Kyiv and Moscow.

Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, both sides carried out intense overnight drone strikes, causing multiple injuries and widespread damage. The central Ukrainian city of Kropyvnytskyi suffered its largest drone assault of the war, with around four dozen drones injuring 14 people—including a couple with severe burns—and damaging residential buildings.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Saratov region experienced its largest-ever drone attack, with more than 50 drones intercepted. The strikes shattered hospital windows and damaged kindergartens, a school, and about 30 homes in Engels, an industrial city near Russia’s primary base for nuclear-capable strategic bombers, according to Governor Roman Busargin.

NATO troop deployment faces Russian opposition

If a peace deal is finalised, the size of the force required to maintain stability remains uncertain, with estimates ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 troops for what has been termed a “reassurance force.” Only Britain and France have committed to deploying troops, while countries such as Australia, Canada, and Finland have expressed willingness to contribute in other ways.

Russia has explicitly rejected the presence of NATO troops on Ukrainian soil. Additionally, Trump has not indicated whether the U.S. would provide backup military support in the event of a ceasefire violation. Starmer stressed that a credible US “backstop” would be essential for the plan’s success.

(With inputs from AP)