British troops rehearse deploying to Ukraine within the occasion of ceasefire in main Nato wargame
British troops will join other NATO members in a drill aimed at ensuring forces are prepared to provide Ukraine with security guarantees after the war with Russia ends
The drill is aimed at ensuring NATO forces are prepared to provide Ukraine with security guarantees once its war with Russia comes to an end(Image: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
British troops will next month participate in a major wargame in Poland. UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said that forces will take part in a “major exercise” while making his first visit to the US in his new role.
The troops will join France and Germany in a drill which is aimed at ensuring NATO forces are prepared to provide Ukraine with security guarantees once its war with Russia comes to an end. This comes as US President Donald Trump split from allies by refusing to say whether Russia’s President Vladimir Putin started the conflict.
Mr Trump also denied the US was responsible for the disruption to Kyiv’s access to the vital Starlink satellite communications system, leaving the country exposed to attack.
British troops will next month participate in a major wargame in Poland(Image: LPhot Finn Hutchins/Royal Navy / SWNS)
Speaking in Washington DC, Mr Streeting said: “Ukraine is the front line for freedom everywhere, and it’s absolutely vital that they prevail against Putin’s aggression.
“We’re planning for the peace and freedom we want to see through our leadership of the coalition of the willing.
“Next month thousands of personnel will take part in a major exercise in Poland to ensure we are ready to support the military training and post-war rebuilding that Ukraine will need.”
At least 1,500 troops from Britain, France and Germany will take part in the exercise next month which will simulate moving troops and supplies such as food and fuel.
Britain and other NATO members have taken a firm stance that Kremlin is to be blamed for the Ukraine conflict after Mr Putin’s invasion of the neighbouring nation in 2022. When the US president was asked whether he had forgotten that it was the Russian leader who started the war, he did not respond directly and implied it was not straightforward.
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky famously clashed when they met at the White House in February 2025 (file image)(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
“I know the details, okay, and at some point I’ll release the details,” Mr Trump said.
“But I don’t care anything except for one. I want that war ended.”
This week, Mr Trump attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying he was “not a big fan” and claiming he was “more difficult to deal with than Putin”.
Mr Trump previously suggested Ukraine needed a new leader and claimed Mr Putin wanted a peace deal more.
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