British troops to join Poland wargame preparing Ukraine security guarantees

Mixed · 2Defence Secretary Wes Streeting announced that UK forces will take part in a "major exercise" in Poland next month, during his first visit to the US in the role. 1 2 Mixed · 2British troops will join French and German troops in a drill aimed at ensuring Nato forces are ready to provide Ukraine with security guarantees once the war is over. 1 2 Mixed · 2According to The Times, at least 1,500 troops from Britain, France and Germany will take part alongside Polish forces; the wargame will simulate moving troops and supplies such as food and fuel, and was agreed at a coalition of the willing summit in July. 1 2

Mixed · 2Speaking in Washington DC, Streeting said Ukraine is "the front line for freedom everywhere" and that thousands of personnel would take part to prepare to support Ukraine's military training and post-war rebuilding; he linked the plans to UK leadership of the coalition of the willing. 1 2 Mixed · 2The announcement came as US President Donald Trump, asked whether he had forgotten that Putin started the war, did not answer directly and said: "I know the details, OK, and at some point I'll release the details", adding that he wanted the war ended. 1 2 Centre · 1Britain and most other Nato members have blamed and condemned the Kremlin for the war, which began when Putin ordered the invasion in 2022. 1

Mixed · 2Trump also said he was "not a big fan" of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, claiming he was "more difficult to deal with than Putin", and denied the US had slowed Ukraine's access to Starlink, saying "We didn't do that." 1 2 Mixed · 2Zelensky had earlier in the week, in London, accused Trump of betraying Ukraine by limiting its use of US-made Starlink terminals, and in Brussels on Friday signalled agreement that he was being made a scapegoat for high fuel prices driven by the Iran war, which the US and Israel launched in February. 1 2 Mixed · 2Ahead of US elections next month, Trump has increasingly blamed Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries for energy costs rather than disruption to Middle East oil supplies via the Strait of Hormuz, and has struck a deal to buy Russian diesel, which critics warn will fund Putin's war effort. 1 2