The UK is considering sending Typhoon fighters to Ukraine for an air policing mission, according to reports.
UK officials have discussed methods to provide security guarantees to Ukraine without committing a substantial number of troops on the ground.
A Royal Air Force source said that an air patrol mission could be a plausible possibility, but it would necessitate a large number of aircraft and air defense systems to protect them.
If the plan is implemented, a small peacekeeping force from the UK and other European nations could provide security on the ground, and dozens of Typhoon fighters could be ready to defend against any Russian assaults.
The suggested mission can be based on the air patrols that NATO now conducts in the Baltic republics.
Although this project is still in its early phases of discussion, a Royal Air Force source said they are ready to take action if directed.
A relatively small presence of “a few tens of thousands” of troops, or possibly fewer, would be required to assist a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, according to The Guardian, which cited estimates from the UK.
According to an unofficial source. European nations are thinking about sending up to 30,000 troops, with France perhaps providing around one-third of the force.
Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy, has voiced doubts about the viability of deploying European forces to Ukraine for this kind of operation.
After a peace deal is signed, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has threatened that Moscow will not allow NATO forces to be stationed in Ukraine.
The continuous debate over how European countries might support Ukraine without engaging in direct military conflict with Russia is highlighted by the ongoing negotiations regarding air patrols and possible troop deployments.
