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Britain Scales Back Ukraine Peacekeeping Plan from 30,000 Troops to Targeted Mission
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Britain has scaled back its proposed military peacekeeping mission for Ukraine, shifting from an initial plan for a 30,000-strong deployment to a smaller, more targeted operation, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed after a virtual meeting with President Trump and EU leaders on Wednesday, according to The Times article published on August 14.
Starmer said European nations now support a “realistic mission” to be launched after a ceasefire agreement, focused on air policing over western Ukraine, mine clearance in the Black Sea, and training assistance for Ukrainian forces.
“We stand ready as a coalition… to increase pressure on Russia, particularly the economy, with sanctions and wider measures as necessary,” he stated, adding that the UK is preparing new “strong” sanctions packages.
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The revised plan follows reluctance among some European governments to commit large troop numbers to protect Ukrainian ports and cities, amid concerns over escalation. Starmer said the coalition would avoid front-line deployments, instead providing logistics, armaments, and training in western Ukraine, where the risk of attacks is lower.
The mission’s remit would include deterring Russian air activity through patrols by Typhoon and F-35 jets, helping restore international flights, and clearing naval mines to reopen maritime trade routes. Britain has also pressed EU partners to seize $284 billion in frozen Russian assets, though consensus has not been reached.
Starmer described “real progress” in the talks, held two days before Trump’s scheduled meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska. He said he had stressed to Trump that “international borders cannot be and must not be changed by force,” while warning of further sanctions if Moscow does not make concessions.
Earlier, it was reported that British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had declared that the UK was “ready and willing” to deploy British troops to Ukraine to enforce a potential peace deal.
