The Times: Europe struggles to send 25,000 troops to Ukraine

European countries are struggling to raise even a modest force to support Ukraine under current defence plans, with sources revealing that a proposed 25,000-strong deterrence force would be difficult to assemble due to manpower and funding shortfalls across the continent’s militaries.

The Times gained rare access to high-level conversations between European defence ministers and military leaders as they debated forming a “coalition of the willing” to assist Ukraine.

British Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin reportedly floated the idea of sending a 64,000-strong force to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal, offering a British contribution of up to 10,000 personnel.

However, defence ministers have since admitted that even 25,000 troops would be difficult to generate as a collective effort. “There’s no chance we can get to 64,000 — and even 25,000 would be a stretch,” one source present at recent discussions in Brussels said.

In light of the challenges, Britain and France are now considering deploying military trainers to western Ukraine, focusing on support roles rather than forming a large multinational ground force. The revised security commitment would prioritise rebuilding Ukraine’s armed forces, with an emphasis on air and maritime protection.

During a coalition meeting on April 10 and subsequent talks in Brussels, ministers voiced skepticism about Britain’s proposed numbers. Allies highlighted the logistical demands of sustaining a 64,000-strong presence, which would require 256,000 troops over two years to accommodate rotational deployments.

Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene reportedly delivered a blunt assessment: “Russia has 800,000 troops. If we can’t even raise 64,000, that’s not just a sign of weakness — it is weakness.” Her remarks were described by participants as “strident and inspiring.”

The discussions revealed the extent of Europe’s military dependence on the United States. One attendee noted that deploying special forces might be more feasible, as such moves typically do not require parliamentary approval.

Concerns were also raised by Estonia and Finland, who fear that contributing troops could compromise their own border security. Meanwhile, Poland, Spain, and Italy have declined to send troops, according to the same source. “Without the involvement of large, populous countries, the idea is going nowhere,” the source added.

France is reportedly willing to match the UK’s potential deployment, offering between 5,000 and 10,000 personnel. A second source in the UK said that Finland and Germany are opposed to sending ground troops, although Berlin has not entirely ruled it out.

By Khagan Isayev