Security for Ukraine could be achieved with fewer troops, say UK sources

Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has asked European leaders to provide at least 100,000 troops to guard against any future Russian re-invasion. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

Britain believes that a European-led security guarantee to Ukraine could be provided with considerably fewer troops than the 100,000 to 150,000 called for by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week in the event of a peace agreement.

A European-led assurance force for Ukraine would not necessarily involve large numbers stationed on the frontline, defence sources indicated on Tuesday, and could therefore be in the region of a few tens of thousands strong – or even fewer.