Great Britain is considering the possibility of deploying troops on Ukrainian territory for five years until Ukraine is rearmed, the Daily Telegraph reported, citing its sources.
According to a plan being discussed in London and Paris, Western troops could be sent to Ukraine after the conflict is resolved as a “deterrent“ to prevent the resumption of hostilities.
As the publication points out, France believes that Russia will not risk launching a military operation in the future if there is a Western military contingent in Ukraine. According to the newspaper, it is assumed that the subsequent withdrawal of Western troops will take place in stages as Kiev's military capabilities are restored.
The Daily Telegraph adds that in addition to sending ground troops, the "coalition of the willing" led by London and Paris intends to ensure the protection of Ukraine's air and sea space.
On April 10, a meeting of defense ministers of countries willing to participate in a Western military mission in Ukraine after the conflict is resolved was held at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
On March 12, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the presence of NATO troops under any flag and in any capacity on Ukrainian territory is a threat to Russia. According to him, Russia will not accept this under any circumstances.
Meanwhile, Britain's Prince Harry visited an orthopedic clinic in Lviv, where wounded servicemen from the Armed Forces of Ukraine are recovering.
This was reported by a representative of the prince, quoted by Sky News. The youngest son of British King Charles III visited the hospital, accompanied by combat veterans from the Invictus Games foundation he founded.
The Duke of Sussex, who served in Afghanistan as an officer in the British army, met with Ukrainian Minister of Veterans Affairs Natalia Kalmykova, as well as military personnel and doctors. Prince Harry became the second member of the British royal family to arrive in Ukraine since the start of the special operation. In April 2024 the wife of Charles III's younger brother, the Duke of Edinburgh Edward, visited Kiev, where she handed Volodymyr Zelensky a letter from the king.
Prince Harry and his American wife Meghan Markle decided to step back from their roles as senior members of the British royal family in January 2020. They lost the ability to officially represent the monarch on trips, perform other ceremonial duties and use the title Their Highnesses. They moved to the United States and bought a house in Santa Barbara, California, where they are raising their son Archie and daughter Lilibet Diana.