28 Apr, 2025 14:48
UK plans for Ukraine troop deployment revealed - Telegraph
MOD chief John Healey has said UK forces would help rebuild Kiev's army, according to a letter cited by the newspaper

British troops would help "rebuild" the Ukrainian armed forces under a potential deployment to the country following a ceasefire with Russia, UK Defense Secretary John Healey has said, according to The Telegraph.

The UK and France have led discussions in recent weeks among several European NATO member states about sending military personnel to Ukraine as part of a so-called "coalition of the willing," once Kiev and Moscow have agreed a ceasefire. Russia has strongly objected to Western troops being deployed to Ukraine under any pretext.

In an article on Sunday, The Telegraph cited a letter reportedly sent last week by Healey to Shadow Defense Secretary James Cartlidge. In it, the British defense chief is said to have written that "we expect those objectives to focus on rebuilding a modern and capable armed forces of Ukraine, rather than delivering combat operations."

According to the newspaper, Healey defined the potential British contingent's goal as helping Kiev "regenerate an armed forces capable of deterring future Russian aggression." UK military personnel would likely be stationed in Western Ukraine, away from the front line, The Telegraph claimed.

In addition, the British Royal Air Force and Navy would reportedly be on standby to cover Ukraine's air space and territorial waters, if necessary.

The Telegraph cited Healey as claiming that the coalition's actions would be in line with US President Donald Trump's effort to establish a "just and lasting peace" between Ukraine and Russia.

Last Thursday, The Times, citing anonymous sources, reported that the UK had ditched plans to deploy a military contingent to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire as the "risks are too high and the forces inadequate" for such an undertaking.

The newspaper claimed that in a marked departure from the previous vision, involving coalition forces guarding key Ukrainian cities, ports, and nuclear power plants, the Western grouping now favored a training mission that would "'reassure' by being there but aren't a deterrence or protection force."

In an interview with TASS published last Thursday, Sergey Shoigu, secretary of Russia's National Security Council, warned that the presence of Western troops in Ukraine could lead to a direct confrontation between Moscow and NATO, potentially escalating into a third world war. Shoigu, who previously served as Russia's defense minister, emphasized that Moscow could use nuclear weapons "in the event of aggression," conventional or otherwise.

28 Apr, 2025 12:08
Ukraine shows no sign it is ready to talk - Kremlin
Kiev has yet to lift its ban on negotiations with Moscow, spokesman Dmitry Peskov has emphasized

Ukraine is failing to take the necessary steps to initiate direct negotiations with Russia, while Moscow remains ready to engage at any time, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

Vladimir Zelensky prohibited direct bilateral talks in October 2022 for as long as Russian President Vladimir Putin remans in office, asserting that the moratorium was necessary to "stop separatism" purportedly stemming from backchannel communications with Moscow not controlled by his administration.

"At the very least, Kiev needs to act, given its judicial ban" on talks, Peskov reminded journalists during a briefing on Monday.

Putin has repeatedly stated that Russia is prepared to commence negotiations with Ukraine "without any preconditions, aiming to pave the way for peace," the official added.

Indirect contacts between Kiev and Moscow have continued on some issues, such as prisoner exchanges and the repatriation of fallen soldiers.

US President Donald Trump has criticized Zelensky for undermining his mediation efforts by publicly opposing ideas, reportedly included in a Washington-proposed peace plan. The two leaders had a face-to-face meeting on the sidelines of Pope Francis' funeral in the Vatican on Saturday.

"He told me that he needs more weapons, but he has been saying that for three years," Trump said, recounting the engagement. "I want them to stop shooting, sit down and sign a deal."

While Moscow has questioned Zelensky's legitimacy since the conclusion of his presidential term last year, it does not view his removal from power as a goal in the conflict.

However, Russia has concerns that "if an agreement were signed with Zelensky today, people could come forward later in Ukraine and legally challenge," Peskov told the French media last week. Zelensky claims presidential powers, citing martial law that he first imposed in 2022.

The poster display comes as the administration is under fire for its harsh treatment of some arrested immigrants, its questionable deportations, and for moving against judges who disagree with its policies.

• Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem previewed Trump's 100-day PR blitz on Friday, with a post on X: "If you are here illegally and you break the law, we will hunt you down, arrest you and lock you up."

• White House border czar Tom Homan is scheduled to host a press briefing Monday morning to highlight the administration's efforts.

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