Overview
- Russia’s foreign ministry warned that any foreign or NATO troops in Ukraine would be unacceptable and could be treated as legitimate targets, saying such a move would prolong the conflict.
- UK Defence Secretary John Healey said British Army and RAF personnel have begun preparing for a possible post‑ceasefire deployment and that £200 million has been allocated for readiness.
- The UK Defense Ministry said a 70‑person Multinational Force for Ukraine headquarters has started work to plan coalition support once hostilities cease.
- The Daily Telegraph, cited by TASS, reported UK paratroopers trained with French and Italian forces in France’s Orion drills and noted UK force‑size constraints that could require reassignments to staff a brigade, quoting Armed Forces Minister Al Carns.
- Sputnik, citing The Telegraph, reported that some prospective contributors to the so‑called coalition of the willing have privately conditioned any troop deployment on consent from Russia’s president.