Europe will have to make significant efforts to send 25,000 troops to Ukraine to form a deterrence force, as its armies are understaffed and underfunded. Advertisement:During an earlier meeting this month, he reportedly stated that the UK was ready to contribute up to 10,000 troops. The Times noted that the defence ministers expressed concerns over the UK's proposal to form a 64,000-strong contingent during a coalition of the willing meeting on 10 April. Following this meeting, talks continued in Brussels in a more restricted circle of defence ministers, where the allies voiced their concerns more openly. Advertisement:Close allies expressed their doubts to UK Defence Secretary John Healey, emphasising that sustaining a force of this size for two years, including rotations, would require 256,000 troops.

Source: The Times April 30, 2025 12:52 UTC