**UK Troops Ready to Deploy to Ukraine**
The British Army says it is ready to send troops to Ukraine if asked by the government. Currently, 2,500 UK soldiers are taking part in a large Nato exercise in Romania.
**Exercise Steadfast Dart**
This exercise is meant to show how quickly Nato allies can come to the defense of an ally under attack. The UK has shown it can move large numbers of troops and equipment across Europe at short notice. Over 10,000 military personnel from eight European nations are taking part in the exercise.
**UK’s Military Readiness**
However, experts say that a peacekeeping operation inside Ukraine might require over 100,000 troops – more than ten times the number currently deployed. The UK’s own armed forces have been cut to their smallest size since the Napoleonic wars, and many other Nato nations are also struggling.
**US Involvement**
Keir Starmer and Defense Secretary John Healey say that the US needs to be involved in any plan to guarantee Ukraine’s security. They note that European nations struggled without US support during the 2011 intervention in Libya.
**British Troops Ready for Deployment**
British soldiers taking part in Exercise Steadfast Dart have been training to clear trenches and combat drones, skills they would need if deployed to Ukraine. Many of them have also been helping train Ukrainian troops in the UK. While they don’t know what role they might be asked to perform, they say they are ready for deployment.
**Recruitment Crisis**
A deployment to Ukraine could give the British Army a new sense of purpose and help with its recruitment crisis. Soldiers say that people join the Army for a reason – and that deploying to Ukraine would give them a clear mission.
