10,000 troops and minehunters to form part of PMs coalition of the willing peacekeeping force in Ukraine - but Finlands president says chances of Putin entering talks are abysmal

Sir Keir Starmers plan for a coalition of the willing to supply a peackeeping force in Ukraine will see the deployment of minehunters and 10,000 troops, it has emerged.

The Prime Minister held a virtual meeting with other world leaders on Saturday following which he announced proposals would move into an operational phase.

Military chiefs from Western countries are set to meet in London on Thursday to further develop the blueprint for enforcing a potential peace deal in Ukraine.

Saturdays call saw the leaders of 27 countries - including the UK, France, Australia and Canada - discuss the plans together with representatives from the EU and NATO.

According to the Sunday Times, the PM won the backing of considerably more than the three countries that initially offered to supply boots on the ground.

But the bulk of a peackeeping force on the ground in Ukraine is still likely to come from Britain and France, with a military source saying its size would be comfortably north of 10,000.

The newspaper also reported that two minehunter ships - which were transferred from the Royal Navy to Ukraines fleet last year - are also taking part in training exercises and ready to be deployed to the Black Sea in the event of a ceasefire.

But Finlands President Alexander Stubb, who joined the call with Sir Keir on Saturday, doubted the chances of a peace deal ever being struck with Russias Vladimir Putin.

British soldiers of a gun battery attend the Allied Spirit 25 training exercise in Hohenfels, Germany, this month

The Prime Minister held a virtual meeting with other world leaders on Saturday following which he announced proposals would move into an operational phase

Two minehunter ships - which were transferred from the Royal Navy to Ukraines fleet last year - are also taking part in training exercises and ready to be deployed to the Black Sea

Asked about the Russian Presidents willingness to enter peace talks, Mr Stubb told the BBCs Laura Kuenssberg programme: I think the chances are abysmal.

I dont think Putin doesnt want a ceasefire. Putin doesnt want peace. 

His original aim was basically to destroy the independent sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Basically to have Ukraine ceasing to exist.

He hasnt changed his aim and this is what all of us around the table have to understand.

Mr Stubb called for Western allies to maximise the pressure on Russia by ratcheting up sanctions, using frozen Russian assets and militarising Ukraine to the teeth.

We are willing to do concrete measures overall but from our perspective it is too early to talk about boots on the ground, he added.

Because we dont have a ceasefire, we dont have a peace process. You also have to remember that Finland has 1,340 kilometres of border with Russia.

So we take care of the northern flanks but there are so many different ways we can help out. Im really glad that we are seeing strong leadership coming from the UK.

Finlands President Alexander Stubb, pictured with Sir Keir Starmer earlier this month, doubted the chances of a peace deal ever being struck with Russias Vladimir Putin

The Russian President has rejected the suggestion of any European or NATO forces being based in Ukraine

The Kremlin has appeared to reject the suggestion of any European or NATO forces being based in Ukraine, and continues to resist a US-Ukrainian proposal for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.

Sir Keir has repeatedly demanded that America provide a backstop to a European-led peacekeeping force by issuing security guarantees.

Former UK national security adviser Lord Peter Ricketts said a European force in Ukraine is a considerable risk without US President Donald Trumps support.

He told Sky News: To be credible, a deterrent force has to be willing to fight, so are we actually saying that this force might one day have to fight the Russians in Ukraine? 

I think its a genuine question. And the way to avoid it, of course, is to have a cast iron American guarantee that if the force got into trouble, the Americans would come in and support. Thats what the backstop means.

I just dont think Trump is going to give that kind of commitment, so while I admire the work going into this, and maybe there are ways that European forces can help in Ukraine… I think a formed fighting force is a considerable risk without an American clear guarantee.

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni was among those to join Saturdays call, despite reports she was considering not attending the meeting due to scepticism about proposals for a peacekeeping force.

The US was not represented, but Sir Keir told reporters the Government remained in contact with the Trump administration

He revealed current national security adviser Jonathan Powell had returned from talks in Washington on Saturday morning.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday.

A State Department statement said they discussed the next steps after the two countries recent meetings in Saudi Arabia and agreed to work on restoring communication.