Fears were growing last night that plans for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine led by British troops could be watered down.
Keir Starmer has pledged to protect the air, sea and land in the war-ravaged country after any truce with Russia.
But while the UK still hopes to send soldiers to Ukraine’s major cities, the force is expected to be smaller than expected. Previously, officials boasted the multinational force could be up to 30,000.
But estimates of 10,000 are now being offered as more realistic, and troops will deploy to more benign areas than initially anticipated.
Last night, Downing Street insisted it was too soon to ‘rule anything out’. But the prospect of thousands of British and French troops facing off against the Russians appears to be fading.
It comes against the backdrop of Russia’s objections to the plan, UK manpower issues as well as the US’s apparent refusal to provide a ‘backstop’.
Changes to the make-up of the peacekeeping force were discussed in the UK on Thursday.
The Prime Minister has won praise for assembling the coalition, but is struggling to meet his ‘boots on the ground’ pledge.
Sources expect Ukrainian troops to provide the ground force, with the UK and allies protecting the skies and Black Sea.
Keir Starmer has pledged to protect the air, sea and land in the war-ravaged country after any truce with Russia
US President Donald Trump yesterday said a full ceasefire is close. But asked if he would punish Russia with more sanctions for recent attacks on Ukraine, he refused to criticise the Kremlin
Russia has rejected Ukraine’s offer of a 30-day ceasefire – only air strikes on energy infrastructure have been ruled out. Pictured: Vladimir Putin
US President Donald Trump yesterday said a full ceasefire is close.
But asked if he would punish Russia with more sanctions for recent attacks on Ukraine, he refused to criticise the Kremlin.
Russia has rejected Ukraine’s offer of a 30-day ceasefire – only air strikes on energy infrastructure have been ruled out.
Mr Trump said: ‘Pretty soon we’re going to have a full ceasefire. The contract is being negotiated, in terms of dividing up the land.’
Meanwhile, the UK and its European allies are planning for an overhaul of Nato over the next five years, with the US giving up its leadership and taking a back seat.
The US general acting as Supreme Allied Commander Europe, a post dating back to World War Two, is expected to be the last from across the Atlantic.
It could see the head of the UK’s armed forces, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, enter the running to become chief.
But officials are optimistic the US will stay in Nato, due to increases in defence spending. European countries, Britain included, have also set a target of being ready to repel any Russian threat by 2030.
On Ukraine, the PM’s spokesman said: ‘Nothing is off the table on any front. There’s a spectrum of support and obviously a spectrum of capability, and the whole premise of the coalition of the willing is a joint effort to support Ukraine to secure a lasting peace, and that’s what we’re intent on doing.’
Speaking to the presidents of the European Council and European Commission last night, as well as the leaders of Turkey, Norway and Iceland, Sir Keir told them Europe was ‘facing a different chapter of history and had to step up to meet that challenge’.
He said it was clear Vladimir Putin was ‘trying to delay and add conditions to any meaningful ceasefire’.
