From fighters to infantry: Great Britain is ready for direct participation in the war in Ukraine

Former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that during recent meetings in European capitals, the possibility of direct British participation in the defense of Ukraine was discussed, including the use of the full range of military assets – “from fighter jets to infantry.”

Rasmussen, who in an interview with The Guardian called on Europe to increase pressure on Moscow and deploy air defense systems on NATO territory, also reported that during his visit to London he had contacts with the UK’s National Security Advisor, Jonathan Powell, where they raised the issues of security guarantees for Ukraine and possible forms of European participation in guaranteeing Kyiv’s security.

“It’s about more radical and faster solutions: not just missile shields and weapons supplies, but also the ability of allied countries to deploy their armed forces in different forms,” Rasmussen said. “That means everything from fighter jets to infantry, if the political decision is made to act decisively.”

Along with calling for the deployment of air defenses on NATO territory and the creation of a European defense mission for Ukraine, Rasmussen believes that achieving peace could also include “ironclad” security guarantees that would help the Ukrainian leadership make difficult political decisions. He also suggests using frozen Russian assets as a financial base for arms supplies and reconstruction.

At the same time, there have been no official statements from the White House or the UK government about intentions to deploy British troops in Ukraine or about the transfer of authority for direct participation “from fighters to infantry.” The UK government is currently refraining from commenting on such scenarios, and any such decision would require a political mandate and broader coalition support in Europe and NATO.

Experts note that the direct use of British forces in Ukraine would be a cardinal escalation and would require the consent of NATO allies; at the same time, supporters of a tougher policy believe that only the threat of direct intervention can force Moscow to seek a political solution.

Recall that the United Kingdom is ready to significantly increase its defense spending in Ukraine and allocate significantly more than 100 million pounds for the possible deployment of British troops if US President Donald Trump reaches a peace agreement with Russia.

The UK has reportedly delivered another batch of Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine, which can be used to strike Russia. The delivery will boost the Defence Forces’ ability to carry out long-range precision strikes ahead of winter.

In addition, the UK has stepped up surveillance of Russian submarines in the North Atlantic . Defence Secretary John Healy said that London is “hunting for Russian submarines” amid Moscow’s increased military activity.

By the way, on the territory of a former Soviet airfield in Latvia, near the Russian border, the British military is conducting large-scale exercises, testing new communication systems between drones, robotic equipment, and artillery.

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