The UK is prepared to spend «well over» £100m on a potential deployment of British forces to Ukraine if Donald Trump secures a peace deal with Russia, according to the defence secretary.
John Healey also stated that Vladimir Putin considers Britain his «number one enemy» due to the country’s support for Ukraine.
The defence secretary’s strategy involves preparing military personnel to join a multinational force that would be dispatched to assist in securing Ukraine’s borders if a ceasefire is brokered between Moscow and Kyiv by the US president.
He indicated that British troops could be ready for deployment as soon as such an agreement is reached, which may include soldiers on the ground. Some of the expected funds for this mission are already being allocated.
Mr Healey also cautioned about a «new era of threat» and emphasized that the risk of wider conflict in Europe is at its highest since the end of World War II.
In a lecture at Mansion House in London, he discussed efforts led by the UK and France to establish a «coalition of the willing» comprising over 30 nations to form a «Multinational Force Ukraine» over the past six months.
This force would assist in securing Ukraine’s skies and seas, as well as providing training for its troops if Russia agrees to cease its full-scale war.
«So, as President Trump leads the push for peace here in Europe, we are prepared to lead the efforts to ensure long-term security,» stated the defence secretary.
«For our Armed Forces, I am already evaluating readiness levels and expediting millions of pounds in funding to prepare for a potential deployment to Ukraine,» he added.
When questioned about the amount of money involved, he mentioned it would exceed £100m.
British troops have been instrumental in the training of Ukrainian soliders throughout the conflict at camps like this one in East Anglia. Pic: PA
Mr Healey highlighted the UK’s assistance to Ukraine, including a record £4.5bn in aid this year, and assuming the role of co-chair with the United States in a broader coalition of nations providing weapons and financial support to Kyiv.
«This is why President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy considers the UK his closest ally,» he remarked.
«This is why Putin regards Britain as his top adversary.»
However, he cautioned that with Russia’s escalating aggression in Ukraine and beyond its borders, «Britain and our NATO allies are more united and stronger.»
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Vladimir Putin. Pic: Sputnik/Reuters
Providing a somber assessment of the security landscape, Mr Healey stated: «This is undoubtedly a new era of threat. The world is more unstable, more uncertain, more dangerous.»
The security of Europe has not been at such risk of state-on-state conflict since the end of the Second World War,» said the defence secretary, emphasizing the need for a new era of defence. He called for «hard power, strong alliances, and sure diplomacy» to address the current threats.
The defence secretary outlined plans for this new era, including increasing defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. Critics have raised concerns about the transparency of this target and how much will actually be allocated to weapons and troops.
«In this new age of hard power, our goal is to secure peace in our continent and strengthen deterrence and resilience, a New Deal for European security,» said Mr. Healey.
He also announced the deployment of a two-star military officer to serve as deputy to the US commander overseeing the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East.
The defence secretary also mentioned the readiness to spend «well over» £100m on a potential deployment of British forces to Ukraine if a peace deal is reached between Donald Trump and Russia. He highlighted Vladimir Putin’s view of Britain as his «number one enemy» due to its support for Ukraine.
Preparations are underway for British military personnel to join a multinational force in Ukraine to help secure its borders if a ceasefire is brokered. Mr. Healey indicated that troops could be deployed promptly, including soldiers on the ground.
Additionally, the defence secretary warned of a «new era of threat» and emphasized the importance of efforts led by the UK and France to build a coalition of over 30 nations for a «Multinational Force Ukraine.»
At Mansion House in London, Mr. Healey discussed these initiatives and the potential deployment of British forces, underscoring the significance of addressing the current security challenges in Europe. Pic: PA
A new force is being prepared by the UK to help secure Ukraine’s skies and seas and train its troops, on the condition that Russia agrees to halt its full-scale war. The defence secretary emphasized President Trump’s efforts for peace in Europe and stated readiness to lead the work for long-term security.
In preparation for a possible deployment into Ukraine, the Armed Forces are reviewing readiness levels and accelerating funding of well over £100m. British troops have been actively involved in training Ukrainian soldiers throughout the conflict, exemplified by camps like the one in East Anglia.
Mr. Healey highlighted the UK’s support for Ukraine with a record £4.5bn in assistance this year. The UK has also taken over from the United States in co-chairing a group of nations providing weapons and financial support to Kyiv. President Zelenskyy considers the UK his closest ally, while Putin has labeled Britain as his number one enemy.
As Russia’s aggression intensifies in Ukraine and beyond, Britain and its NATO allies stand united and stronger. The security landscape was described as entering a new era of threat, with Europe facing a risk of state-on-state conflict not seen since the end of World War II. Mr. Healey emphasized the need for a new era of defense, focusing on hard power, strong alliances, and diplomacy.
Plans for the new era include increasing defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. Critics have raised concerns about the transparency of this target, questioning how much will actually be allocated to weapons and troops. The goal is to secure peace in Europe and strengthen deterrence and resilience, creating a New Deal for European security.
In the Middle East, the UK is sending a two-star military officer to work as the deputy to the US commander, overseeing the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The defense secretary emphasized the importance of monitoring the situation in the region to maintain stability.
Overall, the UK is gearing up for a new era of defense and security, focusing on preparedness, peacekeeping, and strengthening alliances. The commitment to supporting Ukraine and maintaining peace in Europe is paramount, as the world faces increasing instability and uncertainty. The defense secretary’s remarks underscore the need for vigilance and cooperation in the face of evolving threats. The UK is ready to spend «well over» £100m on a possible deployment of British forces to Ukraine if Donald Trump secures a peace deal with Russia, the defence secretary has said. John Healey also said Vladimir Putin views Britain as his «number one enemy» because of the country’s support for Ukraine. The defence secretary’s plan includes the preparation of military personnel to join a multinational force that would be sent to help secure Ukraine’s borders if the US president brokers a ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv. He signalled British troops could be ready to deploy as soon as that happened and he said this could include soldiers on the ground. Some of the anticipated money to prepare for any mission is already being spent. The defence secretary also warned of a «new era of threat» and said the risk of wider conflict in Europe has not been as great since the end of the Second World War. Mr Healey used a lecture at Mansion House in London to talk about efforts led by the UK and France to build a «coalition of the willing» of more than 30 nations to form what he called a «Multinational Force Ukraine» over the past six months. This force would help to secure Ukraine’s skies and seas and train its troops if Russia agrees to halt its full-scale war. «So, as President Trump leads the push for peace here in Europe, we are ready to lead the work to secure it in the long-term,» the defence secretary said. «For our Armed Forces, I am already reviewing readiness levels and accelerating millions of pounds of funding to prepare for any possible deployment into Ukraine.» Asked how much money, he said it would be «well over» £100m. Mr Healey trumpeted the UK’s support for Ukraine, including a record £4.5bn in assistance this year, and taking over from the United States in co-chairing a wider group of nations that have been sending weapons and money to Kyiv. «This is why President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy calls the UK his closest ally,» he said. «This is why Putin ranks Britain as his number one enemy.» But he warned that as Russia’s aggression grew in Ukraine and beyond its borders, «Britain and our NATO allies stand more unified, and stronger». Read more: ‘Ukraine can’t win war,’ says Trump UK military to be given powers to shoot down threatening drones Putin has ‘sent signal to Trump that he’s ready for Ukraine deal’ Giving a stark verdict of the security landscape, Mr Healey said: «This is – undeniably – a new era of threat. The world is more unstable, more uncertain, more dangerous.»
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