Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson previously said that any European force that protects Ukraine’s border with Russia “could not possibly happen without the British”
Ukraine destroy petrol station with FPV drone in Tokmak
Britain and France are said to be secretly discussing options which could see their troops deployed in Ukraine to guarantee security in the event of a ceasefire agreement.
One possibility would reportedly involve an Anglo-French contingent patrolling the contact line between Ukraine and Russia in order to monitor a ceasefire that may be achieved as a result of peace talks.
Radio Liberty, the US government-funded media organisation, said a “senior NATO official” revealed details of the talks “condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to comment publicly on the situation”. The official said the talks were taking place in London and Paris and “not at the NATO level”.
The report stated: “Paris and London are trying to prepare options for different scenarios so that if the new US leadership asks how European countries can get involved, they have ready options to support Kyiv.” Such a move was needed to guarantee the participation of European countries in peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in the event of mediation by the newly-elected US president Donald Trump, according to the source.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has said that Paris “does not rule out any option” concerning troop deployment. The Mirror has contacted the Ministry of Defence for comment.
Former UK premier Boris Johnson said last week that a European force should protect the frontier with Russia. “I don’t think we should be sending in combat troops to take on the Russians,” he said.
“But I think as part of the solution, as part of the end state, you’re going to want to have multinational European peace-keeping forces monitoring the border, helping the Ukrainians.” He added: “I cannot see that such a European operation could possibly happen without the British.”
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy previously dismissed reports that British troops would be deployed to Ukraine “at this time.” Speaking during the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Italy last month, Mr Lammy said the UK would preserve its “long-standing commitment” to keep soldiers out of “the theatre of action.”
“We are very clear that we stand ready and continue to support the Ukrainians with training particularly, but there has been a long-standing position that we are not committing U.K. troops to the theatre of action,” he added, according to reports in Politico. “That is certainly the UK position, and remains the UK position at this time.”
The alleged talks came as Ukraine hit a filling station with an FPV drone close to the frontline in occupied Zaporizhzhia region triggering a major fireball explosion in Tokmak.
Ukrainian channels claimed the Russian military were refuelling at the time and were caught by the strike and inferno. The health ministry in the occupied region said: “Seven people received injuries of varying severity. All victims were taken to hospitals in the region. They are receiving full medical care.”
The Russians accused the Ukrainians of attacking the fire brigade as it came to extinguish the blaze. Radio Liberty is funded by the US government.