UK Defence Officials Warn Against Troop Deployment to Ukraine

As discussions around a potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine intensify, British leaders are grappling with the implications of deploying troops to the war-torn region. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has expressed readiness to send British forces to guarantee Ukraine's security, but former defense chiefs warn that such a commitment could exceed the scale of the Afghanistan conflict and pose significant risks, particularly if it leads to direct confrontation with Russia. Defense sources indicate that a European-led security framework could involve far fewer troops than those requested by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who advocates for a deterrence force of around 100,000 to 150,000 soldiers. Concerns have also been raised regarding the UK's military capacity, with warnings that current troop levels are insufficient for such a deployment without substantial increases in defense spending. Some military leaders suggest any peacekeeping force would need to be robust enough to deter Russian aggression, while also preparing for the realities of a potentially hostile environment. Amid these discussions, there is skepticism about the effectiveness of international negotiations, particularly with the backdrop of U.S. foreign policy shifts led by President Donald Trump.