UK, France and Ukraine Make Progress on Post-War Peacekeeping Force Plans
British, French, and Ukrainian military chiefs have made “tangible progress” in discussions about how a peacekeeping mission could be deployed after the war in Ukraine ends, President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced.
On Friday, Zelensky met in Kyiv with Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Chief of the UK Defence Staff, and General Thierry Burkhard, his French counterpart, to discuss the structure, size, and composition of a potential future peacekeeping force.
Speaking after the meeting on Saturday, Zelensky said, “There is tangible progress and initial details regarding how a partner security contingent could be deployed.” He emphasized that these efforts are aimed at securing Ukraine’s long-term safety and establishing credible guarantees for peace.
“It is precisely this kind of joint work – with everyone focused on a strong result – that brings us closer to a durable and lasting peace in Ukraine,” he added.
The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that the talks focused on the design of any future reassurance force, noting that 30 countries are expected to join the “coalition of the willing.”
Sir Tony Radakin said the meetings explored how to build on Ukraine’s “formidable capabilities” and put the country in the strongest possible position to deter future Russian aggression.
Further discussions are expected next week, when UK Defence Secretary John Healey will meet European counterparts in Brussels on Thursday. He will then co-chair the Ukraine Defence Contact Group with the German defence minister on Friday.
“Our coalition of nations – working at pace and willing to stand with Ukraine for the long term – is a stark contrast to Russia, who stands alone with only North Korea for a friend,” Healey said. “As Putin delays and dithers over a ceasefire, we’re stepping up our military planning – across air, sea, and land – to support a lasting peace in Ukraine.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged European allies to offer “concrete proposals” for Ukraine’s long-term security, following a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels.
Zelensky Criticizes U.S. Response to Missile Attack
Despite European backing, President Zelensky has voiced strong dissatisfaction with the U.S. following a deadly Russian missile strike on his hometown of Kryvyi Rih on Friday, which killed at least 18 people, including nine children, and injured over 60 others.
Zelensky sharply criticized the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv for its “weak” response. While the embassy condemned the strike as “horrifying,” it did not explicitly name Russia as the perpetrator.
Bridget Brink, the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, wrote on X: “It is horrifying that a ballistic missile hit near a playground and restaurant in Kryvyi tonight… This is why this war must end.”
Zelensky responded on the platform: “Such a strong country, such a strong people – and yet such a weak reaction. They are afraid to even say the word ‘Russian’ when speaking about the missile that murdered children.”
This criticism marks the latest flare-up in the increasingly strained relationship between Zelensky and the Trump administration. During a February visit to the White House, a meeting with Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance devolved into a public shouting match.
Soon after, the U.S. temporarily paused all military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
International Reactions and Ongoing Tensions
Kryvyi Rih, a regular target of Russian missile and drone strikes, has declared three days of mourning following Friday’s deadly attack. Russia claimed the strike targeted a military meeting at a restaurant and said it had eliminated 85 military personnel, though it provided no evidence.
The attack drew condemnation across Europe.
“Firing a missile at a children’s playground – this is not war, this is barbarism,” said Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky. EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas called the attack “tragic and inhumane,” adding: “Russia continues to destroy Ukraine, no interest in peace.”
Meanwhile, Russia has accused Ukraine of violating a 30-day moratorium on attacks against energy infrastructure, claiming that Kyiv struck 14 sites, including an industrial facility in Samara.
Despite the ongoing conflict, there are hints of a shift in Moscow’s stance. Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund and a senior adviser to President Vladimir Putin, told Fox News that Russia might accept Ukraine receiving “some” form of security guarantees—though he firmly rejected any possibility of Ukraine joining NATO.
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