British troops could be on the ground in Ukraine within hours of a peace deal being signed, the Armed Forces Minister has revealed.
Luke Pollard said an “enormous” amount of behind-the-scenes planning has already gone into preparing a multinational peacekeeping force, with Britain taking a leading role.
“We’re now at the stage where, if peace were to happen, we would be able to deploy,” he explained. “With every week that passes we improve our readiness, we improve the offer that we’re putting in place. When peace does happen, and I hope it will, we’ll be ready to support Ukraine to the fullest, to secure peace.”
The UK is spearheading what Pollard described as a “coalition of the willing”, drafting plans that would allow British troops to help stabilise Ukraine in the aftermath of war. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has already signalled he would be prepared to put boots on the ground if it helps secure a lasting peace.
Recruitment Crisis Turning a Corner
But while preparing for future deployments, ministers are also tackling a crisis closer to home, the strength of the UK’s own armed forces.
Pollard admitted that under the previous government morale had “been falling for each of the last ten years,” with more people leaving the military than joining. For every 100 who signed up, 130 were walking away.
“That wasn’t because of cuts,” he said bluntly. “It was because they weren’t paying enough attention to the needs of our people. And we want to change that.”
He insisted progress is already being made. Over the past year, service personnel have received two above-inflation pay rises, improvements in housing and childcare, and the largest increase in defence spending since the Cold War.
The result? Recruitment is bouncing back. Applications are up 17%, while departures have dropped by 9%. The Government’s goal is to grow the British Army to 76,000 soldiers.
A Champion for Britain’s Heroes
Another significant change is the creation of a brand-new Armed Forces Commissioner, a role passed into law this week.
The commissioner will act as a dedicated champion for service personnel, reporting directly to Parliament on issues affecting troops and their families. Pollard hopes the position will be filled by early next year.
“We want someone who understands what it’s like to serve,” he explained. “Not just to champion the men and women in uniform, but their families as well.”
For a government determined to rebuild military strength while standing ready to play a leading role on the world stage, the message is clear: Britain’s forces are preparing not just for the next fight, but for the peace that follows it.
