British soldiers will be given the right to return fire on Russian forces if they are attacked during a multinational mission in Ukraine after the end of the war.
Representatives of Western countries reported this to Sky News.
According to the plan of Ukraine's European allies, a multinational force led by Great Britain and France, stationed there after the end of active hostilities, "will train Ukraine's armed forces, send fighters to patrol Ukrainian airspace and deploy Turkish ships to clear mines at sea."
Britain says it will not be a NATO mission or a peacekeeping force, although it will include troops from 11 NATO member states.
Vladimir Putin has repeatedly rejected the idea, and even a defense commentator for "Sky News" calls the possibility of Moscow accepting it "unrealistic".
Russia has already warned that such soldiers would be legitimate military targets, notes Sky News.
However, London and Paris continue to make progress. Next Monday, around 300 British troops and more than 2,000 troops from 10 other countries will begin a two-week exercise in Poland to practice the mission.
British Defense Minister Wes Streeting insists that these are "real forces".