Britain and France Develop Plans for a Troop Reassurance Force in Ukraine
In a significant move to bolster Ukraine’s defenses, Britain and France are reportedly collaborating to draft plans for a “reassurance force” comprising fewer than 30,000 troops. This initiative emerges amid escalating tensions between Kyiv and Washington, as concerns grow regarding the potential for a withdrawal of US support for Ukraine.
According to a report by the Telegraph, the plan is set to be presented by Sir Keir Starmer to former President Donald Trump during their upcoming meeting in Washington next week. This strategic proposal, developed in response to fears surrounding US President Biden’s commitment to Ukraine, was shared with European leaders at an emergency meeting held in Paris earlier this week.
The proposed strategy also includes the deployment of advanced surveillance technologies such as spy planes, satellites, and drones to monitor borders and provide a comprehensive overview of the situation on the ground, as cited by a Western official.
- Troops would be strategically stationed away from the current front lines.
- Deployment locations would include key urban areas, ports, and critical infrastructure sites, including nuclear power stations.
Under the outlined plans, the soldiers would not act as traditional “peacekeepers”; rather, they would serve as a reassurance force aimed at bolstering public confidence and supporting returning Ukrainians, as reported by Sky News.
However, Russia’s ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, has firmly rejected the notion of foreign peacekeeping troops being permitted in Ukraine, particularly in the context of any prospective peace agreement.
This development comes as tensions between Europe and the United States further intensified after Trump labeled Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky as a “dictator”, expressing concerns over the future of the nation without a peace deal with Russia. Trump remarked that Zelensky, whom he referred to as a “modestly successful comedian”, has managed to convince the US to finance a conflict he believes is unwinnable. In a provocative social media post, he stated: “A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left.”
In response to Trump’s comments, Sir Keir Starmer reached out to Zelensky on Wednesday to reaffirm his support for Ukraine’s democratically elected leadership. He emphasized that it is “perfectly reasonable to suspend elections during wartime,” drawing parallels to the UK’s historical precedent during World War II, as noted by a spokesperson from Downing Street.
As preparations for Starmer’s visit to Washington DC continue, the UK Government is keen to maintain message discipline, with Labour MPs appearing hesitant to publicly confront the President. Meanwhile, two of Sir Keir’s senior ministers are expected to engage in discussions with allied nations on Thursday.
- Defence Secretary John Healey is set to continue his visit to Norway, where he has already met with troops stationed near the Russian border alongside his Norwegian counterpart, Tore Sandvik.
- Foreign Secretary David Lammy is attending a two-day G20 foreign ministers meeting in South Africa, where he is anticipated to deliver a strong condemnation of the Kremlin while reiterating the UK’s steadfast support for Ukraine.
