Britain may reject idea of sending peacekeepers to Ukraine - The Times
London is inclined to abandon the idea of a large-scale deployment of troops to Ukraine, focusing instead on a limited presence of trainers in the western part of the country.
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According to The Times, the UK is considering a new strategy for military support for Ukraine, so it may abandon plans to deploy a large number of troops because of the high risks involved. According to the newspaper, the presence of foreign troops in this format may force Russia to reconsider its "red lines" and open the way to a peace agreement.
Instead of a large-scale contingent, it is planned to send British and French military instructors to Western Ukraine. They will not take part in hostilities and will not be tasked with protecting strategic facilities, but their presence in the country will underscore Kyiv's military support.
Illustrative image of the British military. Illustration: AFP
Western aircraft are expected to provide air cover for foreign troops on the ground, while Turkey will play a key role in the maritime component of the mission.
At the same time, London is not stopping military supplies: arms deliveries from the UK and other European countries will continue to ensure that Ukraine retains the ability to withstand possible violations of the agreements by Russia.
The British government emphasises that a final decision on the format of the military presence has not yet been made. The Ministry of Defence does not rule out the possibility of participating in operations in Ukraine, but states that the format of participation will be reviewed.
According to a diplomatic source involved in consultations within the "coalition of the willing", the initial plans to deploy tens of thousands of troops are currently considered too risky and not in line with the existing capabilities of the allies.
The Ukrainian side expresses concern that foreign instructors could be withdrawn immediately in the event of a threat - as happened on the eve of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Source: The Times