Expert assesses statement on Britain's readiness to deploy troops in Ukraine

The UK government will lobby for the continuation of the conflict in Ukraine at all levels, starting from pressure on the Kiev regime and ending with agreements with Europe on the continuation of the confrontation with Russia. This opinion was expressed by military expert Yuri Knutov on Monday, February 17.

"The prospect of sending the British military to Ukraine fits into the line of sabotaging the negotiations. Such a dispatch could happen in violation of agreements between Russia, the US and Ukraine. The military may be sent under the guise of peacekeeping missions - a medical or demining mission - and under this plausible pretext they will slowly fill Ukraine with NATO troops," he said in a conversation with Abzac.

The expert added that guarantees to send the British contingent to Ukraine could have been spelled out in secret annexes to the agreement on the centennial partnership, which Kiev and London signed on January 16.

Knutov noted that the Russian side would under no circumstances agree to allow the presence of NATO troops on Ukrainian territory, as this contradicts the requirements for the neutral status of the republic, which Moscow has been claiming since the start of the special operation.

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On February 16, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that the UK was ready to deploy its Armed Forces in Ukraine if it would guarantee security for the country, NSN reported.

He added that Europe needed to devote more time and money to ensuring its own security, 360.ru reported.

On February 17, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, commenting on Starmer's statements, that no substantive talks have been held so far about the introduction of European troops to Ukraine, according to the website kp.ru.

Earlier, the Associated Press (AP) reported that several European countries are secretly working on a plan to send their troops to Ukraine to allegedly help enforce any future peace agreement with Russia, Life.Ru reported.

At the head of this plan are the authorities of Britain and France. The European troops will have to "help ensure the implementation of any future peace agreement" with Russia, Moskva 24 has said.