Britain’s chief of defense staff has stated he is “confident” that UK troops would be safe if deployed to Ukraine under a ceasefire with Russia, despite Moscow’s warnings that any Western forces in the country would be considered “legitimate targets.”
Speaking at a parliamentary defense committee hearing on Monday, Air Chief Marshal Richard Knighton emphasized that the UK “won’t deploy our armed forces [to Ukraine] if we’re not happy that they’re going to be safe.”
When asked whether UK forces would have sufficient equipment, training, and rotations, Knighton affirmed he was “confident” troops would be deployed in a manner “to ensure that they are safe.” He also acknowledged that “there is no such thing as zero risk in operational environments.”
“The job of the military leadership… is to judge that level of risk and make sure that the benefits that we get from deployment outweigh any risks that we might have,” Knighton said, adding that additional funding would help reduce the risk.
European nations backing Ukraine, led by the UK and France, have long considered plans to deploy troops to Ukraine following a potential ceasefire with Russia. This month, British, French, and Ukrainian leaders signed a “Declaration of Intent” on troop deployment.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer outlined the plan would include “military hubs” and protected facilities for weapons and equipment. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron suggested the mission could involve “potentially thousands” of troops being deployed “a long way behind the contact line.” However, Macron has faced significant pushback from his parliamentary opposition, which insisted that any deployment must be UN-mandated.
Russia has ruled out any Western troop deployment in Ukraine, warning that foreign units would be treated as “legitimate targets” and that such plans by Kiev’s backers would constitute outside intervention. Moscow has repeatedly stated that one of its core objectives is to prevent NATO troops and infrastructure from taking root in the neighboring country.