Analysis: A clear and united message - but also unanswered questions

1 month ago
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Sky's deputy political editor Sam Coates was in the room for us at the prime minister's news conference a short while ago about a peacekeeping force in Ukraine.

He says there was "one clear, united message", which is that Sir Keir Starmer and all participants in the virtual meeting this morning "reject Vladimir Putin's 'yes, but' approach to a ceasefire".

"This coalition that stands with President Zelenskyy does not think that is good enough from the Russian leader. They are trying to box in the Russian government and put pressure on them to go further to end this conflict."

Sam goes on to say that there are "bigger unknowns" following the news conference - one of which is the "clear signal" from Starmer that "he absolutely is relying on a US security guarantee in order to bring on board a 'coalition of the willing' who might be able to provide troops to Ukraine".

"But there are many that don't think that that US security guarantee is coming in any substantial way, based on the noises coming out of the US."

That is a "big problem" for the PM, and as is the question about the remit of any potential peacekeeping force "given the limits on what UK and other troops might be able to do", which was the subject of Sam's question to Starmer at the news conference.

"I didn't feel that the prime minister particularly answered the question," he says.

"The problem is the prime minister saying there will be operational discussion on Thursday about what the 'coalition of the willing' could do, but unless you know the remit to which the operational decisions are made, then really it's unclear what happens next."

He explains that if UK troops could not engage with Russian troops for fear of conflict, then "what is the purpose of the coalition?".

Watch Sam's full analysis.

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