Smaller Western Force Could Help Ukraine, Say UK Sources
A small group of Western troops could help keep the peace in Ukraine if there is a ceasefire with Russia. This is according to unnamed sources from the UK.
Until now, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Europe would need 100,000 to 150,000 soldiers on the front lines to stop Russia. But UK defense sources say this is not necessary.
They suggest that a smaller European-led peacekeeping force could work just as well. This force could use spies and long-range monitoring to enforce a ceasefire instead of putting many soldiers on the ground.
The number of troops needed would be much lower than President Zelensky’s estimate. It could be in the tens of thousands or even fewer.
UK Military sources also say that if there is a peace deal, the UK might send one or two brigades to Ukraine. A brigade has around 3,000 soldiers.
European leaders are meeting in France on February 19 to discuss how to keep Ukraine safe. This meeting comes after talks between US and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia that excluded Ukraine and Europe.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow would not accept NATO troops in Ukraine even if there is a ceasefire deal.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he is willing to send British troops to help keep the peace. French President Emmanuel Macron has been pushing for European soldiers to be sent to Ukraine.
The number of European soldiers who could go to Ukraine might be around 25,000 to 30,000. This was reported by the Washington Post on February 17.
UK sources did not confirm this number but said it is a possibility.
Next week, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will visit the US to ask President Trump for more help in keeping Ukraine safe.
President Trump has said that Europe should be responsible for funding and monitoring Ukrainian security.