British and French troops in Ukraine could fire back if attacked, officials say

The stabilisation force would count more than 10,000 members, run without US technology, including Starlink, and stay away from the front line. No ceasefire is in force yet.

British and European troops sent to Ukraine after a ceasefire could fire back if Russian forces attack them, Western officials said. The British-French-led stabilisation force would also run without any US technology, including Elon Musk's Starlink. Keir Starmer, the UK prime minister, said the force would count more than 10,000 servicemembers, likely made up mainly of British and French troops.

Western officials described the force as one to reassure Ukraine and help rebuild its armed forces, which they called "regenerating and strengthening" them. They said the troops would take no part in offensive operations, ceasefire monitoring or front-line duty, and would not serve under Nato command. In September the Coalition of the Willing, a group of countries that back Ukraine, adopted the Paris Declaration, which stated a European force would deploy at Ukraine's request only after a credible end to hostilities.

The official familiar with the plans said the troops would act in an exclusively defensive manner.

'Clearly we will protect our forces against any aggression,' the official said.

The rules also cover drones from above. Officials said troops could defend themselves against Russian drone attacks, while western forces would be stationed well away from the front line. France has committed 1,500 soldiers from its 1st Division to Exercise Koalicja, a training deployment for the force. Bateman, the UK armed forces minister, said the exercise would show the Multinational Force-Ukraine is a "real, capable, readily deployable force" that represents "a serious commitment from Coalition of the Willing nations to Ukraine's long-term stability and security".

Washington, for now, stays out. Donald Trump, the US president, said he would not commit American forces to peacekeeping in Ukraine even if a durable ceasefire was agreed. Vladimir Putin warned in New Delhi in September that deploying European troops would amount to "a war against Russia". He said Moscow did not intend to threaten European countries. No ceasefire has entered into force, and no multinational European force has been deployed.