Allied troops are ‘ready to go from day one’ if Ukraine ceasefire is reached, says defence secretary

Western allies are preparing to deploy troops immediately to Ukraine should a ceasefire with Russia be secured, according to Defence Secretary John Healey.

Speaking at a NATO summit in Brussels, Healey said a joint stabilization force was “ready to go from day one” to help secure any agreement, oversee withdrawal zones, and provide humanitarian support. He stressed that the mission would not be a combat deployment but a peacekeeping and reconstruction operation designed to safeguard fragile terms of a deal.

“Ukraine must know that if a ceasefire is reached, its allies will be there without delay,” Healey told reporters. “The credibility of any settlement depends on rapid, coordinated action.”

NATO officials confirmed that preliminary plans include a multinational force composed of British, Polish, French, German, and U.S. contingents, with logistics and medical units already on standby in Eastern Europe. The force could also support mine clearance, border monitoring, and the rebuilding of critical infrastructure.

The announcement comes amid intense diplomatic activity, with U.S. and European leaders urging Kyiv and Moscow to consider confidence-building measures that could pave the way for a truce. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signaled openness to talks but insists that Russia must first halt its offensive operations.

While the prospect of allied boots on the ground raises concerns of escalation, NATO officials argue that a rapid peacekeeping presence could deter renewed Russian advances and reassure Ukraine’s population. Critics, however, warn that any misstep could drag Western troops into direct confrontation with Russian forces.

Healey acknowledged the risks but insisted the West could not “hesitate at the moment of peace.”