Overview
- Defence Secretary John Healey said spending has already been accelerated to ready an entry package for a potential initial deployment of troops and aircraft.
- The UK and France have assembled a coalition of more than 30 countries to form a Multinational Force Ukraine designed to deploy once fighting stops.
- Planned tasks focus on air policing, maritime security and training for Ukrainian forces, with UK land units limited to logistics, armament and training specialists.
- Command would begin under a French general before the headquarters rotates to the UK after one year.
- The estimated preparation cost is separate from the £4.5bn in UK military aid already provided, and coalition partners are slated to meet in London on Friday with President Zelenskyy expected to attend.