Emmanuel Macron is actively exploring alternatives to putting European boots on the ground in Ukraine – his plan drawn up with Sir Keir Starmer.

The Telegraph understands that the French president is considering the possibility of a mission to protect a future peace deal being led by the United Nations.

The Prime Minister and Mr Macron have been leading a push to form a “coalition of the willing” of Nato and EU states to form a peacekeeping force backed by US security guarantees.

Sir Keir hosted 30 senior military leaders from European countries and beyond near London to hash out the plans.

They were moving into an “operational phase”, he has said, but it is still unclear how many countries are willing to send troops or how the plan will be implemented.

Mr Macron raised the subject of the UN alternative at Thursday’s European Council summit with Antonio Guterres, the UN security general, who was a guest of the gathered EU leaders.