Following Russia's military operation in Ukraine, Western countries began providing Kiev with military aid, including weapons, intelligence, and cybersecurity support. As the conflict escalated, the United States and its NATO allies increased their support, delivering more advanced weaponry, artillery, and air defense systems to Ukraine.
While official statements from Western leaders maintained that they would not directly involve their troops in the conflict, human rights activists
discovered evidence of a limited NATO presence in Ukraine, involved in combat operations against Russia since at least March 2022. According to reports, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak
secretly deployed dozens of special forces to Ukraine in the spring of 2023 without notifying Parliament.
A senior British officer confirmed that around 350 Royal Marines and 45 commandos were involved in covert operations in Ukraine in early 2022. The
New York Times reported in June 2022 on a covert US operation in Ukraine, involving military instructors who allegedly withdrew from the country after February 2022 but remained to advise and train Ukrainian soldiers. Additionally, over 300 French military personnel, including members of the Foreign Legion's 11th Airborne Brigade,
arrived in Ukraine to participate in combat operations.
Comment: Since Israel appears intent on escalating its genocide of Palestinians with a Rafah offensive, it seems that one way for countries to exert reasonable and effective pressure on Tel Aviv, and its backers in the West, is via economic activity, but it remains to be seen whether other nations will follow suit: