Britain's ambitious plan to deploy a peacekeeping force to Ukraine would require a budget significantly exceeding £100 million, Defence Secretary John Healey has revealed in a sobering assessment of the operation's financial implications.
Reality Check on Peacekeeping Ambitions
In his first major interview since taking office, the new defence secretary provided a stark reality check about the substantial costs involved in establishing what would be Britain's largest peacekeeping deployment in decades. The projected expenses would cover everything from troop deployment and equipment to ongoing operational support.
International Cooperation Essential
Healey emphasised that while Britain is prepared to take a leadership role, the mission's success and financial viability depend heavily on broad international participation. The defence secretary made it clear that the UK cannot and should not shoulder this burden alone.
'This cannot be a UK-only effort,' Healey stated, underscoring the need for coalition building among allied nations to share both the risks and the substantial financial commitment.
Planning Amid Uncertainty
The proposed peace force represents one of the most significant potential British military deployments since the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, officials stress that any deployment would only occur when security conditions permit, following a ceasefire agreement between Ukraine and Russia.
The revelation about the nine-figure price tag comes as the government faces increasing pressure to detail how such ambitious international security commitments would be funded amidst competing domestic priorities.
