Former UK defense chiefs warn of risks to troops in Ukraine without spending boost

Three former UK defense secretaries have warned that British troops would be at risk if sent to Ukraine without increased defense spending. They raised concerns about the military's readiness to support a potential peacekeeping mission. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer expressed willingness to deploy troops but faced skepticism about the military's capacity. He plans to discuss defense needs with European leaders at an emergency summit in Paris. Labour has pledged to raise defense spending to 2.5% of GDP but has not set a timeline. Critics argue that without significant funding increases, the UK military cannot sustain a long-term commitment in Ukraine.