European allies not united on armed deployment in Ukraine as Macron announces ‘reassurance force’ | World News

Emmanuel Macron has announced a plan for a “reassurance force” with several countries in Ukraine – but not all European allies have backed the idea.

The French president said some nations disagreed on the proposed deployment of an armed force to back up an eventual peace deal, with only some wanting to take part.

“It is not unanimous,” he said during a news conference after the third summit of the so-called “coalition of the willing” on Thursday, with leaders meeting in Paris to coordinate their stance.

But Mr Macron said France and the UK, who are driving the initiative, will work with Ukrainian counterparts to decide where the contingents could be deployed in Ukraine.

“We do not need unanimity to achieve it,” he said.

The summit hosting the leaders of nearly 30 countries, plus NATO and European Union chiefs, comes at a crucial point in the war, which has been ongoing for more than three-years.

Meanwhile Sir Keir Starmer – who was also at the meeting – has said Vladimir Putin must be given a deadline to make progress on a Ukraine ceasefire.

Following the summit, the prime minister spoke at a news conference at the UK Ambassador’s residence in Paris and accused the Russian president was “playing games”.

He told reporters he would like to see a peace deal in Ukraine develop in a matter of days and weeks instead of months.

When questioned about the “reassurance force”, Mr Starmer said it was “designed to deter” Vladimir Putin and defend whatever ceasefire or peace deal is agreed.

He added: “This is done in recognition that we also need US involvement”.

While there were no details about which nations would contribute military assets, he did confirm the coalition had “200 planners from 30 countries”.

Mr Starmer confirmed that Parliament would “have a say” if British troops were deployed on a long-term basis.

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