LONDON

Britain has said that over 30 countries will be involved in the "coalition of the willing" to help end the war in Ukraine, according to media reports on Monday.

"The UK expects more than 30 countries to be involved in the coalition of the willing," the spokesman for Prime Minister Keir Starmer said as reported by Sky News.

On Saturday, leaders from 26 countries gathered for a virtual meeting hosted by the British premier after Ukraine accepted a 30-day ceasefire agreement.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, EU Council President Antonio Costa and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte were among the attendees.

The spokesperson, however, did not reveal which additional countries had joined the coalition since Saturday's videoconference meeting.

Countries will have different roles, said the spokesperson, adding: "It involves more than sending troops; it involves contributing in other ways."

Meanwhile, military chiefs will meet on Thursday to discuss the next "operational phase" to protect Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping force if a peace deal can be agreed with Russia, according to the spokesperson.

Leaders from Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Türkiye, Ukraine, and the UK took part in Saturday's meeting.