As part of a peacekeeping mission, Britain could patrol the skies.

Currently, around 2,500 British troops from the rapid response forces are participating in NATO exercises in Romania, located just 25 kilometers from the border with Ukraine. Brigade Commander Andy Watson, who is leading the British forces in the exercises, told the BBC that his brigade is "fully prepared" for deployment in Ukraine. He emphasized that this involves participation in a joint peacekeeping operation with other countries. Britain will not send troops to Ukraine unilaterally.

The BBC notes that military experts believe an effective peacekeeping contingent should consist of at least 100,000 troops. In contrast, the total strength of the British army is just over 70,000, the lowest figure in more than 200 years.

Regarding the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine as a security guarantee after a ceasefire or peace agreement, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated earlier this week. Many European politicians, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, however, were quick to assert that sending peacekeepers is not currently on the agenda, as there are still no agreements for peace with Russia. The prospect of sending troops to Ukraine while active combat is ongoing is even more out of the question.

In the UK itself, according to a report by The Times, no decision has yet been made on what form the country’s participation in a potential peacekeeping mission could take. The newspaper reports that instead of deploying ground troops, Britain may take on the role of patrolling the airspace over Ukraine using Typhoon fighters, similar to their current patrols over the Baltic States.

What a potential peacekeeping mission might look like remains unclear. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed that Paris is not currently considering sending its military to Ukraine. He stated that if troops from European or U.S. countries were to be deployed there, "it would be as a guarantee of peacekeeping, not to send them into combat." French President Emmanuel Macron, in turn, mentioned the possibility of sending a small number of troops to be stationed "outside any conflict zone."

Ukraine insists on receiving security guarantees in the event of a ceasefire agreement with Russia. The best security guarantee in Kyiv’s view is the country's membership in NATO, and if that is currently not feasible, then the deployment of troops from Western countries and the strengthening of the army.