US EditionBritish, French Paratroopers Prepare for Possible Ukraine Peacekeeping Mission
Around 2,000 British and French paratroopers completed Exercise Orion, testing rapid NATO deployment readiness for a possible Ukraine peacekeeping mission if a ceasefire is agreed.
- On February 26, 2026, The Telegraph reported that British and French paratroopers completed final preparations in Brittany for a possible Ukraine peacekeeping deployment during Exercise Orion.
- The nine-day Exercise Orion began on February 24, 2026, involving about 2,000 personnel, as a readiness test for potential NATO peacekeeping deployment, ending on March 3, 2026.
- More than 600 troops from the UK's 16th Air Assault Brigade trained with France's 11e Brigade Parachutiste while Pathfinders and Groupe Commando Parachutiste landed at St Cyr-Coëtquidan and RAF A400M aircraft delivered supplies.
- Questions arose about Britain fielding such a force, given the Army's size of about 70,000 personnel, despite Sir Keir Starmer indicating the UK and France would lead a peacekeeping force, and Zelenskyy citing around 5,000 troops per country.
- The drills reflect growing European concern and may signal a shift in Western involvement, with Sergei Ryabkov saying Moscow would never accept NATO forces in Ukraine, while Italy's Brigata Paracadutisti Folgore joined the A-CJF under the Lancaster House Treaties updated in 2025.
38 Articles
38 Articles
Kremlin warned that if the United Kingdom sends troops to Ukraine to monitor any peace agreement, Moscow may attack: "Russia is opposed to NATO's presence in the territory".
British paratroopers drop into France
British paratroopers have been landing in France as part of Exercise ORION 26, joining their French counterparts in a large-scale airborne operation designed to test rapid reaction forces under NATO scenarios. Around 2,000 troops from 16 Air Assault Brigade and France’s 11e Brigade Parachutiste took part in the nine-day exercise, operating together as the long-standing Airborne Combined Joint Force. The scenario centred on supporting a NATO ally…
In the French province of Brittany, British and French paratroopers were trained to transport troops anywhere on the Earth, writing The Telegraph.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 42% of the sources lean Left, 42% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
