Britain to help restart civilian flights into Ukraine after ceasefire
The Coalition of the Willing, a group of more than 30 nations supportive of Ukraine, wants to establish 'normal' flying conditions in the event of a ceasefire.
Royal Air Force fighter jets are due to join planes from other European nations in policing the skies to make sure that Russia does not launch a second full-scale invasion.
But a secondary aim will be to once again reinstate international travel in and out of Ukrainian cities. A similar effort will be made to reopen Ukraine's ports by accelerating ongoing efforts to clear the Black Sea of mines.
The ambitions show an additional feature of the West's hopes of rebuilding Ukraine into not just a secure and strong nation after the fighting ends, but an economically thriving one.
There would also be upsides for European travellers, who for more than three years have experienced longer journeys as planes divert around the Ukrainian border.
In the sky over Europe, from Portugal to Ukraine, the flight radar shows a striking contrast. Busy air routes full of passenger planes gradually give way to an empty horizon. http://pic.twitter.com/lBppbzjhWu
— http://Ukraine.ua (@ukraine_ua) August 14, 2025
Planning for how Europe can do more to protect Ukraine's independence if there is a deal with Russia has been going on intensively for months.
Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron, the French president, have been taking the lead on the drive, with a joint headquarters being set up in Paris.
The coalition has put an emphasis that nations reluctant to take part in peace-keeping efforts should not hold back others more ready to act.
The coalition will also consider how to ensure Russia will not restock its military after a ceasefire is declared, which could enable a second full-scale invasion in the future.
The Prime Minister committed to the consideration of putting British 'boots on the ground and planes in the air', though the idea of a mass UK deployment to man any new border has faded.
Instead, hundreds of British military trainers and engineers will be sent into Ukraine to help rebuild its armed forces.
The first deployments are expected to take place within a week of a ceasefire, with the UK presence ramping up in the weeks after that.
Allies would fly planes over Ukraine to patrol the skies and deter a second Russian invasion, under the plans. The UK is willing to provide Eurofighter Typhoons and F-35s.
This would also allow commercial air travel to resume. In July, the UK Government said planes from the coalition would provide 'air policing, reassuring the Ukrainian population and establishing the conditions for normal international air travel to re-commence'.
Alongside this will be an effort to create 'safer seas' around Ukraine. The Black Sea Task Force, which was set up by Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria, would be bolstered with specialist staff to more quickly clear mines in the water.
The UK Government said this drive would 'ensure safe and secure maritime access for all vessels transiting to and from Ukraine ports'.
The resumption of more normal air travel and port activity would provide a boost to the Ukrainian economy at a time when Kyiv wants to rebuild its military.
Other companies and travellers in Europe could benefit too.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) noted in its 2025 annual report: 'The ongoing war in Ukraine also has affected air transport in various ways.
'Twenty per cent of European airspace has been closed and Russian airspace overflight rights withdrawn for most Western airlines, requiring the re-routing of long-haul flights to Asia.'
How quickly private airline companies would be willing to fly once again both over and into Ukraine, even with the coalition patrols, remains to be seen.
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