The UK government is prepared to send troops to Ukraine if a peace agreement is reached with Russia, according to Defense Minister John Healey. In an interview with The Telegraph, Healey emphasized the importance of 2026 as a target year for ending the conflict.
Healey expressed his aspiration to be the defense minister who would deploy British forces to Ukraine, stating, “This would mean we have secured a peace deal in Ukraine. A safe Europe requires a strong, sovereign Ukraine.” His comments come as the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion approaches.
On January 6, a trilateral Declaration of Intent was signed in Paris by Ukraine, France, and the UK, outlining plans for deploying multinational forces in Ukraine following a ceasefire.
On January 9, former U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that the United States would be willing to commit to Ukraine’s future defense, contingent upon Russia not attempting another invasion. The Russian Foreign Ministry criticized these initiatives, labeling them as “militarization and escalation of the conflict.”
Following trilateral talks in Geneva on February 17-18 between Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky reported a positive development in discussions regarding ceasefire monitoring, confirming U.S. participation in the process.
UK Defense Minister John Healey has indicated readiness to deploy troops to Ukraine if a peace deal with Russia is achieved. This statement coincides with ongoing international discussions surrounding the conflict and efforts to establish a ceasefire.