British, Danish and German intelligence chiefs believe Russia could be ready in as little as five years.
After co-chairing a meeting of 30 nations, John Healey, the Defence Secretary, said he wouldn’t reveal details of the plans being discussed.
UK weighs five-year troop deployment to Ukraine
A Ukrainian soldier receives training in the UK. Cpl Cameron Eden/UK MOD
The United Kingdom is considering deploying troops to Ukraine for up to five years as part of a broader Western effort to support the country’s defense capabilities, News.Az reports, citing The Telegraph.
Military chiefs want the deployment to help train and reconstitute the Ukrainian army to prevent Russia.
A scheme for a phased withdrawal was raised in the discussions being led by Britain and France over a “coalition of the willing” to uphold any post-conflict peace agreement.
Under the plan, one of a number of options on the table, a European-led force would be dispatched to Ukraine to initially deter Russia from breaching any settlement and to offer Kyiv’s men some much-needed respite.
French military planners have argued that it is highly unlikely Putin would sanction another attack with Western forces inside Ukraine when his troops are only capable of seizing small amounts of territory, The Telegraph understands.
Under the plan, the Franco-British-led “reassurance force” would also offer to help protect Ukraine’s skies and seas.
But the main aim of the deployment would be to immediately start helping to train and rebuild Ukraine’s armed forces to deter another Russian attack. They would later withdraw in stages with final troops to leave around the five year mark, The Telegraph understands.
It would put the UK, France and their Western allies in a race to rebuild and bolster Ukraine’s military before Moscow is once again ready to wage full-scale war.
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