Boris Johnson proposes immediate deployment of non-combat UK and allied forces to Ukraine
Johnson urges non-combat troop presence in Ukraine
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson told a national broadcaster that the UK and like-minded partners should send forces to non-fighting areas of Ukraine now as a visible demonstration of political support. He spoke alongside Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, arguing those personnel would perform peace-support roles rather than combat functions.
Johnson framed the suggestion as a means to harden deterrence against Moscow and to signal that Ukrainian sovereignty is an enduring Western objective — a counterpoint to years of what he described as hesitant policymaking. He also revisited missed opportunities from earlier crises and said a clearer posture might have altered Russia’s calculations before the 2022 invasion.
Government officials have been working on a contingency plan to assemble a coalition of willing states for post-conflict stabilisation, but existing plans link overseas troop deployment to a negotiated settlement. Johnson’s pitch would move that concept forward into the present timeline, proposing actions like creating safe corridors or improving access to western airports as precursors.
Sir Tony amplified the point by pressing ministers to honour the NATO-era pledge to lift defence spending to 3.5% of national income by 2035, framing budget choices as essential to credibility. The interview comes just before the conflict’s fourth anniversary, a political moment that sharpens attention on strategic choices and public appetite for more assertive support.
Critics warn any physical international footprint inside Ukraine, even if non-fighting, will be read by the Kremlin as a provocation and could complicate alliance unity, rules-of-engagement, and legal status for deployed personnel. Allies would need fast agreements on command arrangements, intelligence-sharing, force protection and liability rules to avoid ambiguity.
Operationally, inserting troops for non-combat roles would require secure lines of supply, air and cyber defences, and rapid diplomatic channels to manage incidents — capabilities tied to budgetary and NATO readiness choices. Whether London or other capitals are prepared to accept those trade-offs is now an open political question.
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