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UK Defence Secretary John Healey has stated that European forces are “ready to deploy” to Ukraine in the coming weeks should a ceasefire agreement be reached between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
Following a call last Thursday, the US and Russian presidents are reportedly planning to convene in Budapest, Hungary. While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was not initially invited, he has expressed his willingness to participate.
When questioned about the potential for troop deployment within two weeks of a deal, Healey affirmed, “If President Trump can broker a peace, then we will be ready to help secure that peace.”
He added, however, that the Ukrainian people must ultimately determine the terms and scope of any negotiated settlement.
Healey noted that members of the “coalition of the willing,” a group of 26 European nations established in March by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to guarantee Ukraine’s security, have been “developing detailed plans, in the event of a ceasefire.”
These plans potentially include the deployment of UK troops as part of a multinational force to secure Ukraine’s borders.
Healey emphasized that the work of “over 200 military planners from 38-plus nations over the last six months” has ensured that forces are prepared for rapid deployment when necessary.
The government anticipates spending “well over” £100 million on troop deployment to Ukraine, with some funds already allocated for preparatory measures, according to Healey.
During the London Lord Mayor’s Annual Defence Lecture, Healey also stated that Vladimir Putin considers Britain his “number one enemy” due to the nation’s support for Ukraine.
The defence secretary also cautioned about a “new era of threat,” asserting that the risk of broader conflict in Europe is at its highest point since the end of World War Two.
In his address, Healey announced that British soldiers will be granted new powers to shoot down drones that pose a threat to military bases.
Last year, four British airbases utilized by US forces reported unexplained drone sightings, while drones have disrupted airspace across Europe on multiple occasions in recent months.
The new powers will initially apply only to military sites but could be extended to civilian locations such as airports in the future.
Healey stated that the introduction of a “kinetic option” would enable British troops or Ministry of Defence (MoD) police to engage drones that pose a threat to military sites within the UK.
This announcement follows reports of a contentious White House meeting between Trump and Zelensky, where US officials reportedly pressured Ukraine to cede territory to Russia.
Zelensky had traveled to Washington to request that the US supply Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine for strikes deep within Russian territory.
However, reports suggest that Trump instead insisted that Zelensky surrender the entire eastern Donbas region to Putin. Russia currently controls 70% of Donetsk and nearly all of neighboring Luhansk.
The Financial Times reported that Trump warned Zelensky that Putin would “destroy” Ukraine if he did not agree to these terms, citing sources familiar with the conversation.
In the more than 1,300 days since Russia invaded Ukraine, Putin has become increasingly reliant on support from North Korea, Iran, and China.
According to Healey, Russia has suffered over a million casualties and allocated 40% of its government spending to the military.
In recent months, Moscow has intensified attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, leading to emergency power cuts across the country.
European leaders have expressed concern over Trump’s evolving stance, with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warning on social media that “appeasement never was a road to a just and lasting peace.”
Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated that “the only ones who can decide on the land issue are the Ukrainians themselves.”
Speaking to the BBC, Stubb affirmed that Finland, a member of the coalition of the willing, would never recognize Crimea or the regions of Donetsk or Luhansk as Russian territory.
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Plans to allow troops to take faster action come after sightings at four airbases last year.
The facility beside the Clyde had been in doubt because of an SNP ban on providing public funds for munitions.
The defence secretary says officials are looking at possible locations to help end the use of hotels.
The defence secretary says the UK is ready to “put boots on the ground” in Ukraine if a ceasefire is agreed.
The Berkshire facility has maintained the UK’s nuclear deterrent for the past 75 years.
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