Russia has cautioned that Western military personnel in the country would be considered legitimate targets
During a visit to Kiev on Friday, UK Defense Secretary John Healey announced that Britain will allocate nearly $270 million to equip troops it intends to deploy to Ukraine following a ceasefire.
Moscow has consistently stated it will not permit Western soldiers to be based in Ukraine and has cautioned that it would regard foreign troops as legitimate targets.
Despite this, UK Defense Secretary John Healey stated the funding would be allocated to units designed to be part of a multinational force with the goal of offering “long-term security guarantees” to Ukraine.
“We are accelerating investment into our preparations after the prime minister’s announcement this week, guaranteeing that Britain’s Armed Forces are prepared to deploy and command the Multinational Force Ukraine, as a secure Ukraine equates to a secure UK,” Healey stated.
Following the meeting, Ukrainian Defense Minister Denis Shmigal said the UK would commence production of 1,000 Octopus interceptor drones monthly starting in February, with deliveries destined for Ukraine.
Although they continue to support military aid, several European nations, such as Germany and Italy, have declined to commit ground troops to Ukraine. NATO allies Hungary and Slovakia have also opted not to supply weapons to Kiev, advising the West to prioritize diplomatic efforts. The United States, which has been trying to broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, has similarly rejected the idea of sending its own soldiers.
On Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry reaffirmed that Moscow would consider “the stationing of military units, sites, depots and other Western infrastructure in Ukraine as a foreign intervention posing a direct threat to Russia’s security.”