This is CBS Eye on the World.

Here's John Batchelor.

The headline from London, number 10 distances itself from Macron's Ukraine Truth Plan.

French president, goes to subhead, claimed that France and Britain

were proposing a limited four-week ceasefire, including guarantor troops on the ground in Ukraine

during the ceasefire. However, we suddenly have number 10 saying, not so fast. So I turn to a veteran of the British military. I welcome

Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Wilson retired, UK artillery. He joined in 72 and he left in 03.

His opinion of the military is critical here because I read

the numbers on Wiki and it is very small. Total regular personnel, Navy Army Air Force, 144,000.

There are volunteer reserves. There are other personnel that add to it and get up to 185,

according to numbers in 23. But that is not adequate, but there's worse. Tim, a very good evening

to you. Thank you for this. These numbers reflect a military that you report to me has been

cut back consistently over many decades by prime

ministers what was their thinking why why take the gem of the Europeans the British military

Navy Army Air Force and cut back what do they think the future held for them?

Good evening to you.

Hello, John.

No, first of all, I would say that it's a result of America and NATO offering too much protection, if you like.

It started in the 60s with severe cutbacks.

In the late 50s, they still had national service, and they got rid of that.

And then they started to, the all-volunteer force, got trimmed and trimmed and trimmed

again.

...