EU may not be able to send even 25,000 troops to Ukraine

The Times reported the information, citing anonymous sources.

Europe would struggle to assemble 25,000 troops for a "deterrence" force in Ukraine due to undermanned and underfunded armies, sources revealed. Conversations between European defense ministers and military chiefs highlighted the challenges of forming a "coalition of the willing" force.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the British chief of the defense staff, reportedly asked European counterparts if they could assemble a 64,000-strong force for Ukraine in the event of a peace deal. He also stated that Britain would be willing to contribute up to 10,000 personnel, according to sources from a meeting earlier this month.

European defense ministers expressed doubts about reaching a 64,000-strong force for Ukraine, with some saying even 25,000 would “be a push for a joint effort”. Concerns over Britain's proposal were raised during a "coalition of the willing" meeting on April 10, followed by frank discussions among a smaller group in Brussels.

Dovile Sakaliene, Lithuania’s defense minister, was said to have told her counterparts: “Russia has 800,000 [troops]. Let me tell you this, if we can’t even raise 64,000 that doesn’t look weak — it is weak.”

Estonia and Finland feared a deployment would weaken their border defenses, while Poland, Spain, and Italy refused to commit troops. Sources say that without larger countries involved, the effort is a dead end. France is expected to send 5,000 to 10,000 troops, like the UK. A second source revealed that Finland and Germany were mostly opposed to sending ground forces, though Berlin hasn't entirely ruled it out.

The source said: “Once you take those off the table, where’s the army going to come from? With others not there, we would be left exposed.”

The Times revealed that Britain and France are more likely to send training troops to western Ukraine rather than a multinational ground force to protect key cities, due to concerns about the risks involved. The focus will instead shift to supporting Ukraine’s military reconstitution and rearmament, with an emphasis on air and sea protection.

A Ministry of Defense spokesman said: “Advanced operational planning within the ‘coalition of the willing’ remains ongoing for options across land, sea and air, and to regenerate the Ukrainian armed forces. In the meantime, we’re continuing to support efforts for peace, while stepping up military support for Ukraine as Putin’s illegal invasion continues.”