The Defence Secretary John Healey has confirmed that British troops will be sent to Ukraine to help “reinforce” a ceasefire with Vladimir Putin.
The Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the French President Emmanuel Macron will discuss the “coalition of the willing.”
The “coalition of the willing” will attempt to keep the peace in Ukraine, but the Kremlin has previously stated British troops will be a legitimate target.
France could also provide troops, however Washington needs to back the plan.
Speaking to Times Radio Healey told Time Radio this means British troops will be sent to Ukraine.
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Healey was asked “Does it still include the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine to support a ceasefire?”
The Defence Secretary said, “Yes. The Prime Minister has always been clear that he’s ready to put troops into Ukraine to help reinforce a ceasefire.”
Healy also confirmed that 50,000 troops will be formed to help defend Europe in a joint cooperation between France and Britain.
Healey was asked about the 37th Franco-British summit taking place on Thursday at Downing Street, he told Sky News, “It’s the first summit with a European ally since the end of Brexit, which is quite extraordinary, but it demonstrates the way that as a Government, we set out this last year to reset relations with key European allies.
“And France has always been our longest-standing ally.
“We’re close on military co-operation, so we’ll be announcing new co-ordination on nuclear co-operation, on research, on exercising, (and) on testing and co-ordinating our deterrence in the face of extreme threats that our countries in Europe may face…”
This week the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands has started to prepare for possible war and are creating space for NATO ships carrying supplies of military cargo.
The port is Europe’s largest, and the move has been made by the Netherlands after NATO allies are warning that a full-scale war across the bloc will happen within the next five years.
The Rotterdam Port is mapping out logistic routes for the transfer of weaponry and vehicles and they are appointing a special designated area for military use, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday.
Neighbouring port of Antwerp in Belgium will also coordinate military logistic for weapons, ammunition and other equipment.
Making reference to the port of Antwerp, Boudewijn Siemons, Chief Executive of the Port of Rotterdam Authority said, “We see each other less and less as competitors.
“If large volumes of military goods would have to be shipped, we’d look to Antwerp or other ports to take over some capacity and the other way around.”
