UK scales back plans for sending troops to Ukraine – Times
British military chiefs have “given up” on plans to deploy around 30,000 troops to Ukraine’s ports and cities in the event of a ceasefire between Moscow and Kiev, The Times reported on Wednesday.
Officials are now proposing what The Times described as a more “realistic mission,” with a focus on “air reassurance flights” over western Ukraine involving jets such as Typhoons or F-35s as a form of deterrence.
According to the newspaper, Kiev’s backers will provide support for training the Ukrainian military and clearing mines from the Black Sea. Most of the efforts will take place in the west of the country where the risk of attack is lower.
The role of the United States in the plan reportedly remains unclear. Moscow has repeatedly warned it would not tolerate any NATO member’s presence in Ukraine under any circumstances.
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky, meanwhile, held talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and several European leaders ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s summit with his US counterpart, Donald Trump, in Alaska on Friday.
Starmer said Kiev’s backers have credible plans to deploy a “reassurance force” to Ukraine. He added he believes there is a “viable chance” of a ceasefire but stressed that Ukraine’s “territorial integrity” must be protected.
Meanwhile, several European states have already signaled reluctance to send personnel to Ukraine under any arrangement. Poland, Spain, and Germany have ruled out contributing troops, citing fear of escalation.
