The Times reports that Typhoon fighter jets could police Ukrainian airspace if Russia agrees to a NATO presence.
The British government is considering an air policing mission over Ukraine, according to a Tuesday report in The Times. This potential deployment of Typhoon jets from Polish bases, presented as an alternative to deploying significant ground troops, would necessitate Moscow’s approval.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated the UK’s readiness to station troops in Ukraine as part of a post-truce security arrangement. A government source told The Times that an air patrol, comprising British aircraft and protective anti-aircraft systems, could supplement a small ground troop presence in Ukraine.
This proposed arrangement, mirroring NATO’s air-sharing scheme over the Baltic States, would likely involve dozens of Typhoons on alert. A Royal Air Force source stated, “We are prepared to do whatever we are told to do.”
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy suggested a need for at least 200,000 foreign troops for adequate security. However, European NATO allies are considering a much smaller force, an approach Zelenskyy deemed “nothing.”
Meanwhile, the US has rejected any military involvement, either directly or through NATO, in potential peacekeeping efforts.
Senior US and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia this week to improve relations, hoping for a diplomatic breakthrough in the Ukraine conflict. Following Tuesday’s meeting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized that Moscow would not tolerate any NATO military presence in Ukraine, “even under the EU flag or as part of national contingents.”
The British newspaper highlighted this challenge in its report: “British Typhoons may help keep peace in Ukraine – if Russia drops objections.”
Following a shift in US policy under President Trump, several European nations, including Poland, Germany, and France, have expressed reservations about deploying troops to Ukraine without US support. The Times noted that some officials see a UN mission as a potentially acceptable alternative for Russia.