It follows key discussions at Britain’s military HQ in Northwood, North London on Thursday to thrash out details of a plan with France to create a multinational stabilisation force on Ukrainian soil.
The meeting was led by Lt Gen Nick Perry, chief of joint operations, and attended by Sir Keir Starmer, Defence Secretary John Healey and 30 nations interested in contributing to Ukraine’s post-war security.
Sir Keir said military planning for the “coalition of the willing” has been separated into areas. He added: “The political momentum we've built up is being translated here into military planning and operational planning, and broken out into different areas. So we're looking at the sea in one scenario, the sky, land and borders, and regeneration.”
An extended multinational squadron of between 18-35 fighter jets would always have been required to support troops on the ground.
The UK already carries out enhanced air patrols on NATO’s flanks and has committed to sending additional Typhoons to Poland. It is thought that some of these planes will extend their patrols to Ukraine, but will not be based in Ukraine. They will also require at least one AWACs plane to provide all-weather surveillance, command, control, and communications for the squadron, though it is unclear whether this will be provided by the US or NATO nations.
US president Donald Trump has indicated that he will not provide any military support and he has called on Europe to step up.
However, Vladimir Putin’s rejection of a comprehensive ceasefire, which is denying Mr Trump a quick win in Ukraine, may push the Oval Office to reverse this course. Sir Keir said it was clear Putin was “trying to delay and add conditions to any meaningful ceasefire betw...
The meeting was led by Lt Gen Nick Perry, chief of joint operations, and attended by Sir Keir Starmer, Defence Secretary John Healey and 30 nations interested in contributing to Ukraine’s post-war security.
Sir Keir said military planning for the “coalition of the willing” has been separated into areas. He added: “The political momentum we've built up is being translated here into military planning and operational planning, and broken out into different areas. So we're looking at the sea in one scenario, the sky, land and borders, and regeneration.”
An extended multinational squadron of between 18-35 fighter jets would always have been required to support troops on the ground.
The UK already carries out enhanced air patrols on NATO’s flanks and has committed to sending additional Typhoons to Poland. It is thought that some of these planes will extend their patrols to Ukraine, but will not be based in Ukraine. They will also require at least one AWACs plane to provide all-weather surveillance, command, control, and communications for the squadron, though it is unclear whether this will be provided by the US or NATO nations.
US president Donald Trump has indicated that he will not provide any military support and he has called on Europe to step up.
However, Vladimir Putin’s rejection of a comprehensive ceasefire, which is denying Mr Trump a quick win in Ukraine, may push the Oval Office to reverse this course. Sir Keir said it was clear Putin was “trying to delay and add conditions to any meaningful ceasefire betw...
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Daily Express (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 22, 2025