The United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that Britain is preparing to offer NATO a security package proposal, which will include additional troops, fighter jets, and warships in Europe amid the Russia-Ukraine border crisis.
Johnson said that if Russian President Vladimir Putin chose "bloodshed and destruction" in Ukraine, it would be "a tragedy for Europe". He further said that "Ukraine must be free to choose its own future".
U.K. officials are expected to visit NATO’s headquarters next week to finalize details of the proposed security package proposal.
The British Embassy in Washington said Johnson is slated to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week and will travel to the region in the coming days. U.K. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is also expected to meet with NATO allies in Hungary, Slovenia, and Croatia this week.
The move means Britain could double approximately 1,150 UK troops, currently in eastern European countries as UK PM Johnson said the deployment would send a "clear message to the Kremlin".
“This package would send a clear message to the Kremlin – we will not tolerate their destabilizing activity, and we will always stand with our NATO allies in the face of Russian hostility,” U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson wrote in a Sunday evening statement.
“If President Putin chooses a path of bloodshed and destruction, it will be a tragedy for Europe. Ukraine must be free to choose its own future,” he added.
The U.K. currently has more than 900 British military personnel based in Estonia, more than 100 troops in Ukraine, and approximately 150 soldiers in Poland.
Johnson said that if Russian President Vladimir Putin chose "bloodshed and destruction" in Ukraine, it would be "a tragedy for Europe". He further said that "Ukraine must be free to choose its own future".
U.K. officials are expected to visit NATO’s headquarters next week to finalize details of the proposed security package proposal.
The British Embassy in Washington said Johnson is slated to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week and will travel to the region in the coming days. U.K. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is also expected to meet with NATO allies in Hungary, Slovenia, and Croatia this week.
The move means Britain could double approximately 1,150 UK troops, currently in eastern European countries as UK PM Johnson said the deployment would send a "clear message to the Kremlin".
“This package would send a clear message to the Kremlin – we will not tolerate their destabilizing activity, and we will always stand with our NATO allies in the face of Russian hostility,” U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson wrote in a Sunday evening statement.
“If President Putin chooses a path of bloodshed and destruction, it will be a tragedy for Europe. Ukraine must be free to choose its own future,” he added.
The U.K. currently has more than 900 British military personnel based in Estonia, more than 100 troops in Ukraine, and approximately 150 soldiers in Poland.
