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John Healey: "I Want to Be the UK Defence Secretary Who Sends Troops to Ukraine"

Published February 22, 2026, 09:09
John Healey: "I Want to Be the UK Defence Secretary Who Sends Troops to Ukraine"

John Healey, a potential UK Defence Secretary, has stated his ambition to be the first to deploy British troops to Ukraine, linking this to the achievement of peace in the country. According to Healey, 2026 should be the year the war ends, and the deployment of British troops would signify the successful negotiation of peace and the emergence of a strong and sovereign Ukraine. Britain and France are leading talks to create a "Coalition of the Willing" that will deploy peacekeeping forces if an agreement is reached. Healey emphasized the importance of military support for Ukraine, citing a commitment of $35 billion in aid from allied countries. He also highlighted the need for increased pressure on Russia through sanctions and actions against the Russian fleet. Healey's statement follows a similar expression from Boris Johnson, who proposed sending non-combat troops to Ukraine as a show of support for Ukrainian sovereignty.