Downing Street said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer spoke with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on 3 January, confirming ongoing UK work to prepare options for a multinational force that could deploy in Ukraine once a ceasefire takes effect. The government’s readout also aligned London with Washington’s push for a “just and lasting peace”, while emphasising that no party seeks that outcome more than Ukraine.
The No 10 note recorded National Security Adviser‑level discussions in Kyiv on 3 January and said leaders would progress that work in Paris on Tuesday, 6 January. The Prime Minister condemned continued Russian missile and drone strikes against cities and critical infrastructure, and welcomed the appointment of Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov as head of the Office of the President in Ukraine, indicating officials intend to work closely with him.
Taken together, the language signals preparatory planning rather than an imminent deployment. Downing Street did not set out the prospective force’s composition, command arrangements, mandate or timeline. In practical terms, early planning would typically focus on ceasefire monitoring, protection of key infrastructure and support to civilian safety in the immediate aftermath of hostilities.
For the UK, any contribution would be subject to ministerial decisions and parliamentary scrutiny. Scope and scale would depend on an agreed legal basis with Ukraine and partners, rules of engagement, and the logistics required to operate in contested or recently contested areas, including air defence, medical support and secure communications.
The reference to Adviser‑level talks in Kyiv followed by leader‑level engagement in Paris within days indicates the issue remains on an active diplomatic track, moving from technical exchanges to political decisions between 3 and 6 January. That sequencing usually reflects efforts to narrow options and settle questions that only principals can authorise.
London’s acknowledgement of sustained Russian attacks on energy and other critical systems underscores the humanitarian stakes of any ceasefire transition. Stabilisation forces, where used, have often been tasked with deterring renewed strikes and helping to safeguard repair crews and vulnerable populations during the first weeks of reduced fighting.
On personnel, Kyiv’s decision to place Lieutenant General Budanov at the head of the Office of the President brings a senior security figure into a central administrative post. For foreign partners, that could streamline coordination across defence, intelligence and diplomacy as discussions on ceasefire security arrangements develop.
The immediate markers to watch are progress at the Paris engagement on 6 January, any agreed language on a post‑ceasefire security presence, and subsequent UK statements on scope, readiness and contribution. Until then, the public signal is one of solidarity with Ukraine, active planning and routine diplomatic coordination.