Politics1 min read

UK and European peacekeepers in Ukraine would be allowed to fire back at Russians

By · Via The Guardian Politics · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The post-war stabilization plan intends to provide security guarantees and rebuild Ukraine's military while keeping deployed troops stationed far away from active front lines. European organizers are purposefully designing the mission to operate entirely independently of United States assets, specifically avoiding technologies like the Starlink satellite network. Broader regional efforts will also deploy fighter jets to protect commercial airspace and feature Turkish-led maritime mine-clearing operations across the Black Sea.

Key points

  • European planners are designing the deployment to operate outside NATO structures without…: European planners are designing the deployment to operate outside NATO structures without reliance on American military support or satellite systems.
  • Troops deployed in the proposed mission will operate under self-defense rules allowing th…: Troops deployed in the proposed mission will operate under self-defense rules allowing them to return fire against threats like drone strikes.
  • The multinational mission aims to provide lasting security guarantees and rebuild Ukraine…: The multinational mission aims to provide lasting security guarantees and rebuild Ukraine's military capabilities following a potential ceasefire.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

British troops and their European allies would be allowed to fire back if attacked by Russians when potentially stationed as peacekeepers in Ukraine after a ceasefire, western officials said.

The Anglo-French led stabilisation force would also not rely on US systems or technology, such as Elon Musk’s Starlink, and is expected to be almost exclusively European if deployed.

“Clearly we will protect our forces against any aggression,” an official familiar with the plans said, though they emphasised that western troops in Ukraine would engage in a manner that was “defensive in nature”.

Details emerged as the UK and France set out Exercise Koalicja, which will take place later this month in Poland. It is an 11-country rehearsal of how European militaries could deploy rapidly to Ukraine if the war comes to an end.

The test of the multinational force will involve 2,800 soldiers, sailors and aviators. France is supplying 1,500 troops from its 1st Division and Britain 300 from the 7th Light Mechanised Brigade.

Though a future deployment in support of Kyiv remains hypothetical, it is a reminder that the…

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