British troops are on standby to deploy as part of a planned multinational force to support Ukraine’s stability and security in the event of a ceasefire.
Speaking in the House of Lords, Defence Minister Lord Coaker said that “multinational force planning was discussed by the Prime Minister at the recent coalition meeting in London attended by President Zelensky.” He told peers that “command structures have long been agreed” and that “reconnaissance missions to Ukraine have been completed.”
Lord Coaker added that “the Defence Secretary has accelerated funding to ensure the UK force contingent is ready to go when called upon.” He said the UK and European partners were also “working up options to use the full value of the immobilised Russian sovereign assets to support Ukraine.”
The minister told the Lords that the proposed force would form part of a wider international effort “to secure Ukraine’s skies, secure safer seas and regenerate Ukraine’s forces.” He described the planning as evidence of enduring unity among European and NATO partners and of Britain’s long-term commitment to Ukraine’s defence and recovery.
Reflecting on the broader war effort, Lord Coaker said there had been “no weakening of our resolve or that of the British people to support Ukraine; no stepping back from our determination to stand up with our NATO allies and beyond for democracy and freedom.” He stressed that both the current and previous governments had “stood up against Russian aggression,” adding that “NATO has been strengthened, not weakened, and Europe stands ready to do what it takes.”
The minister said that while Russia’s campaign had failed to achieve its objectives, “Putin continues to send Russians to their death in horrifying numbers” and that Ukrainian civilians were still being killed in increasing numbers. He called Russia’s tactics “sickening and cynical,” saying they exposed Moscow’s “failures on the battlefield.”
Lord Coaker outlined the scale of the UK’s assistance, confirming that Britain’s total military package for Ukraine this year stands at £4.5 billion, “the largest ever level of UK support for Ukraine.” He said this included major deliveries of ammunition, missiles and drones, as well as an expanded training effort under Operation Interflex, which has now trained more than 60,000 Ukrainian troops.
The minister also pointed to growing defence cooperation between the UK and Ukraine, including joint industrial projects. “We have entered a new technology-sharing agreement with the Ukrainian Government to develop and advance a new air defence interceptor drone,” he said. He noted that this partnership was supported by Ukrainian investment in British manufacturing, “creating 500 jobs in East Anglia.”
Lord Coaker said the UK would continue to help Ukraine build its resilience until a just peace could be achieved. “Ukraine’s security is our security and Ukraine’s fight is our fight,” he told peers. “The front line of European security runs through Ukraine. However hard, however challenging, we can, we will, and we must prevail. Democracy, human rights and freedom demand it.”
We need more troops.
As long as Putin exists, peace in Ukraine is realistically going to be incredibly fragile. Putin won’t want to be seen as weak, so therefore any substantial treaty is going to require permanent Ukraine land losses, especially in the Donbass. Any sort of multinational, Western force – in the eyes of many Russian hardliners will be seen as a provocation or even comparable to Napoleon’s stay in Lithuania in 1812. This, in addition to the fact Ukraine has a large resource of rare-earths which will be required to alleviate the future fall in demand for Russian oil/gas, will simply create geopolitical tensions to great to be risked with an increasingly desperate nuclear state who has thrown absolutely everything into winning this war. If it takes another Gorbachev then so be it but any multinational force risks breaking the fragility of this new Cold War
Do you believe in miracles? In other news there are reports that the army has ‘found’ 69 more Challenger 2 tanks. In the last year the reported inventory has apparently increased from 219 to 288 🙂
Ha! Just posted on another article asking for an article on this gem.
Refurbish and / or upgrade to CR3. Significant capability increase for not a lot of money. What’s not to like? I’m hoping whilst rummaging through the attic they find a few Typhoons. More frigates would be a bit unrealistic though I suppose. 😂
I think it’s either an error or a bare faced lie.
They are capable of both. When I peruse official websites they are often out of date or plain wrong.
Hiding or massaging figures to look better seems pretty standard to me, to the point that asset lists that were routinely published are now hidden since this government came in, despite swearing on more transparency.
Covering up their own ineptitude or the ongoing erosion of the military? Or an error.
I’ve asked FOIA requests on certain reorgs of parts of the military that were flatly refused.
Did you also see that the number of Sky Sabre is also withheld, something of particular sensitivity in the current drone, lack of UKGBAD climate.
It’s expectation management. We can expect drip feed of info to feed speculation on the defence industry plan. Hasn’t Pollard rejigged the categories for the LMP vehicle program – invented a new medium category or something? What’s the betting the categories are being defined to match proposals from Patria and Nurol Makina. I know it winds you up but its all about UK jobs.
I thought on that the Medium category was abolished and with just a Heavy segment for Patria, the LMV bit to replace Land Rover, with the Medium now using and refitting the existing Foxhound.
But I may be wrong there.
4.5 billion, from MoDs budget. So 4.5 billion less assets for Britain’s military.
That we give UKR this help is not the issue.
That money should come from aid or the Treasury reserve. I have seen no proof that that’s the case, despite some telling me that it is so.
I have seen Ben Wallace deriding it saying he refused to accept that ploy from HMT on his watch.
I’d love to know the truth as another stick for me to beat this government with on a public forum.
On deploying the military:
1. When has Putin agreed to a ceasefire with NATO involved in those terms?
2. Assets we deploy would be minimal as the Army doesn’t have the assets for an enduring all arms deployment thanks to the very people who now Grandstand what we can do, HMG.
3. Beware the small print, we’d be playing a “leading role” with little to offer without using often already double hatted assets.
Headline should read…. ” Grandstanding political and military chiefs prepared to sacrifice troops from already depleted units in order to look tough in press releases. And to secure Lordships. “
A perfectly acceptable alternative mate.
Good ol’ UK, first in last out doing all the hard/dirty work while the rest of Europe’s armies sits on the beach sunbathing.
I suggest you read the article first
Deply with wha?
Deply with wha? a wing and a prayer? With clappen out kit, no UCAS air defence, we are always been told what the HMG wants but they never supply the kit and backup to go with it. We have a show Army, great in if any one needs light kit, fast responce. How ever fully armoured, fully tracked no chance its a fantasy.