Ukraine-Russia battle newest: UK will ‘make 2026 the year war ends’ says defence secretary after vow to deploy troops
UK defence secretary John Healey has expressed his hopes to be the first minister to deploy British troops to Ukraine in a bid to end the ongoing conflict.
Writing ahead of the four-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion he said “2026 must be the year this terrible war ends” in the Telegraph on Sunday.
“I want to be the defence secretary who deploys British troops to Ukraine – because this will mean that this war is finally over,” Mr Healey said.
“It will mean we have negotiated peace in Ukraine. And a secure Europe needs a strong, sovereign Ukraine.”
He added: “I am proud of our UK leadership. I am determined that we will make 2026 the year this war ends.”
The comments come after former prime minister Boris Johnson said the UK should send non-combat troops to Ukraine immediately and had been “too slow” to respond to Putin’s aggression.
Speaking to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg alongside the former head of the military, Adm Sir Tony Radakin, the former PM said: “We’ve always delayed needlessly.
“We’ve then ended up giving the Ukrainians what they have been asking for, and actually it’s always served to their advantage and to the disadvantage of Putin. I mean, the one person who suffers from escalation is Putin.”
Ukraine frontline mapped: Kyiv counteroffensive regained territory before fruitless US peace talks
Ukraine headed into the third round of direct talks with Russia and US mediators this week following a string of symbolic victories on the frontlines.
There has been little progress in the talks to date, with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky recently sharing his frustration that his country is “too often” asked to make concessions – as Moscow sticks to its maximalist demands.
With land still central to diplomacy, Ukrainian negotiators headed for Geneva this week emboldened by recent territorial gains on the battlefield.
Former UK PM Boris Johnson says UK should immediately send non-combat troops to Ukraine
Speaking ahead of the four-year anniversary of the invasion, the former politician told BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg that Ukraine’s allies had been “too slow” to respond.
“We’ve always delayed needlessly,” he said. “We’ve then ended up giving the Ukrainians what they have been asking for, and actually it’s always served to their advantage and to the disadvantage of Putin. I mean, the one person who suffers from escalation is Putin.”
Watch: Boris Johnson says UK should send non-combat troops to Ukraine now
Former prime minister Boris Johnson has said the UK should send non-combat troops to Ukraine now in a bid to “flip a switch” in Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s head.
Mr Johnson said the country should put boots on the ground in non-fighting zones, adding Ukraine’s allies have been “too slow” to send support to Kyiv.
Speaking to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg alongside the former head of the military, Adm Sir Tony Radakin, the former PM said: “We’ve always delayed needlessly,.
“We’ve then ended up giving the Ukrainians what they have been asking for, and actually it’s always served to their advantage and to the disadvantage of Putin.
“I mean, the one person who suffers from escalation is Putin.”
Ukraine officials to boycott Paralympics over Russia’s participation
Ukrainian officials are poised to boycott the upcoming Milano Cortina Paralympics next month, protesting the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under their national flags.
Ukraine‘s Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi confirmed on Wednesday that while Ukrainian athletes will still take part in the 6-15 March games, no official representatives from Ukraine will attend the opening ceremony or any other event.
It comes after the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) decision on Tuesday, which cleared a combined total of 10 para-athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete. Six slots have been handed to Russia and four to Belarus.
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Ukraine strikes a key industrial site deep inside Russia
Ukrainian drones struck an industrial site deep inside Russia on Saturday, and a Russian news channel reported the target was a key state-owned missile factory.
The attack took place in Russia’s Udmurt Republic, leaving 11 injured, three of whom were hospitalized, according to a Telegram post by Sergei Bagin, the local health minister.
“One of the republic’s facilities was attacked by drones” launched by Ukraine, regional head Alexander Brechalov said in another Telegram post. He added that the strike caused injuries and damage but did not name the site or give further details.
IMF board to weigh new $8.1bn Ukraine support package
The International Monetary Fund said its board will consider a new $8.1bn programme for Ukraine in the coming days after staff reached a preliminary agreement with Kyiv.
IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack said Ukrainian authorities had completed the required prior actions, including submitting a draft labour code law to parliament and adopting the 2026 state budget.
She added that Ukraine’s economy is likely to grow below 2 per cent in 2025 and that Russia’s invasion “continues to take a heavy toll on Ukraine’s people and its economy”.
The proposed arrangement would form part of longer-term financial support as Ukraine continues to fund its wartime budget and stabilise its economy amid the ongoing war.
If approved, the board decision would allow further disbursements under the programme.
Ukraine’s women at breaking point after four years of war as attacks on energy and healthcare continue – says N
Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure are directly undermining women’s safety, according to the United Nations.
“Those energy blackouts, they are not just technical disruptions,” chief of Humanitarian Action Sofia Calltorp told reporters in Geneva.
“They directly undermine women’s safety, protection and economic security.”
Families have been left without heating, electricity and reliable shelter amid brutal winter conditions, with 65 per cent of Ukraine’s energy generation capacity according to the UN.
Ms Calltorp explained that extended darkness, lack of street lighting and disrupted transport “severely restrict women’s mobility and increase exposure to harassment and accidents.”
UN Women reported that 2025 had been the deadliest year for women in Ukraine, with more than 5,000 killed and 14,000 since the start of the conflict in 2022.
Ukraine condemns ‘blackmail’ after Hungary and Slovakia oil threats
Ukraine’s foreign ministry has issued a statement hitting out against “blackmail” by Hungary and Slovakia over oil passing through a Russian pipeline.
Russian oil shipments to Hungary and Slovakia have been interrupted since 27 January after Ukrainian officials said a Russian drone attack damaged the Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian crude across Ukrainian territory and into Central Europe.
Hungary threatened to block a €90bn loan until the flow of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline resumed, Hungary’s foreign minister said.
It was followed by threats by Slovakia to cut electricity to Ukraine unless oil continued to flow through the passage.
Ukraine condemned the “ultimatums” and “blackmail” over the comments in a response on Saturday.
Zelensky awards Paris mayor with special medal for ‘comprehensive support of Ukraine’
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky met with Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo and awarded her with the Order of Princess Olga, III class, for her support for Ukraine on Saturday.
“We discussed diplomatic efforts to achieve a dignified peace, energy support, and the importance of Ukraine’s recovery,” Zelensky wrote on X.
“I awarded Anne Hidalgo the Order of Princess Olga, III class, and I am grateful to Madam Mayor for her comprehensive support of Ukrainians – including our athletes at the 2024 Olympic Games – as well as for advancing projects for Ukraine’s recovery on the global stage.”
Hidalgo has visited Ukraine during wartime and hosted Zelensky during talks in France.
Source: independent.co.uk
