U.K., France, Ukraine Military Chiefs Plan Multinational Force to Deter Russia

Senior military officials from the United Kingdom, France, and Ukraine gathered in Kyiv this week to advance plans for a future multinational force aimed at deterring further Russian aggression.

U.K. Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin met with his French and Ukrainian counterparts to lead discussions on forming a new reassurance force in Ukraine. The talks come amid the U.K.'s push to build a "Coalition of the Willing" to ensure long-term peace and security for Ukraine.

The meetings focused on shaping the size, structure, and composition of the proposed multinational force. Around 30 countries are expected to take part in the coalition, which aims to provide credible security support on land, air, and sea.

“Our coalition of nations, working at pace and willing to stand with Ukraine for the long-term, is a stark contrast to Russia who stand alone with only North Korea for a friend,” said U.K. Defence Secretary John Healey.

The Kyiv talks follow a series of high-level engagements held recently in London and Paris, with U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and other leaders reaffirming commitment to Ukraine.

This work delivers on the Prime Minister’s four-point plan to support Ukraine by ramping up delivery of weapons and equipment, boosting Ukraine’s defensive capabilities in the long term, working with allies to develop robust security assurances, and keeping up pressure on Putin.

As planning continues, the U.K. and France will host further meetings in Brussels this week. On Thursday, Healey will co-host a gathering of coalition defence ministers alongside his French counterpart to finalize steps for supporting Ukraine's long-term security.

The following day, Healey will co-chair the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) with Germany, where around 50 nations are expected to discuss expanded military assistance.

The U.K. has already contributed over £4.5 billion in military support to Ukraine this year, including recent packages of drones, tanks, and air defence systems. In February, the U.K. chaired the UDCG for the first time, helping raise €1.5 billion in additional aid.

Last month, the government announced a £1.6 billion contract to supply Ukraine with over 5,000 air defence missiles. The Chancellor also confirmed a £2.26 billion loan from frozen Russian assets to strengthen Ukrainian defence.

“We will not jeopardise the peace by forgetting about the war,” said Healey. “We are ramping up military planning while ensuring Ukraine has the equipment it needs to defend itself from continuing brutal Russian attacks.”

The U.K. MOD has sent around 400 different capabilities to Ukraine, with a new £150 million package including drones, tanks and air defence systems announced on 12 February 2025, a £225 million package including drones, boats and munitions announced on 19 December 2024, and 650 lightweight multirole missiles announced on 6 September 2024.