UK army chief: Troops to only be deployed to Ukraine if safety can be guaranteed

Britain will not deploy its troops to Ukraine unless commanders are satisfied they can operate safely and with sufficient resources, the head of the UK Armed Forces said, as London prepares for a possible peacekeeping mission following any ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, the Chief of the Defence Staff, made the remarks when questioned by members of parliament about whether British forces would be adequately protected and equipped if they were sent to Ukraine after the war ends, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media. 

He acknowledged the inherent dangers of military deployments but stressed that safety would remain the government’s primary condition for any mission.

“There was no such thing as zero risk in operational environments,” he said, adding: “We won’t deploy our Armed Forces if we’re not happy that they’re going to be safe.”

Sir Richard said he was confident the military could meet the requirements of a peacekeeping operation, pointing to ongoing planning efforts among allied nations.

“I’m confident – having been closely involved in the work on the ‘coalition of the willing’ planning – that we have a means of meeting the requirements that have been set, and this additional funding will reduce the risk,” he said.

Last week, the United Kingdom announced it would deploy troops to Ukraine alongside France if and when a ceasefire agreement is reached between Russia and Ukraine. The exact number of personnel involved has not been confirmed, though reports suggest up to 7,500 British troops could be sent.

On January 9, the government pledged £200 million to upgrade armoured vehicles and purchase new equipment in preparation for the potential peacekeeping mission.

By Sabina Mammadli