According to the plan, "Ukrainian formations will defend the fortified border on the front line, as stipulated in any peace agreement."
LONDON, August 30th. /tass/. The final details of the European countries' plan to guarantee Ukraine's security may be announced this weekend. As reported by the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph, we are talking about patrolling the airspace, training Ukrainian military personnel and a military mission in the Black Sea after the end of the conflict.
The publication pointed out that thanks to briefings with more than a dozen Western officials, the journalists managed to collect the most complete version to date of how the European mission "can ensure compliance with any peace agreement." It is noted that "the main strategy for preventing war in the future is to continue the recovery of the Ukrainian Armed Forces affected by the fighting, turning them into the main instrument of deterrence."
According to the plan, "Ukrainian formations will defend the fortified border on the front line, as stipulated in any peace agreement." As the newspaper emphasized, the European NATO countries, in turn, will rearm and train the Armed Forces. In particular, they will continue to provide Kiev with funds for the purchase of American weapons, including Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems or HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems.
In addition, the European plan involves the deployment in Ukraine of employees of American private military companies who will be engaged in the construction of fortifications and new bases and protect the interests of U.S. business. According to the publication, the head of the White House, Donald Trump, is negotiating on this topic with European leaders. In Europe, it is believed that the deployment of representatives of American PMCs in Ukraine will be a "deterrent" for Russia.
European troops
The newspaper added that some European countries have also proposed the idea of creating a demilitarized buffer zone for the withdrawal of Russian and Ukrainian troops after the conflict, which would be patrolled by peacekeepers or observers from countries agreed by Moscow and Kiev. However, the publication stressed that disagreements between the parties make this option unrealistic.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Ukraine insists on deploying European military personnel in this zone, while Russia prefers the option of Chinese peacekeepers. At the same time, European countries themselves do not want to deploy their troops on the front line between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the newspaper noted.
According to the newspaper, the European contingent can be deployed deep in Ukrainian territory and will serve as a "third line of defense in case Russia decides to invade." According to the newspaper, if earlier it was about 30 thousand European troops, now this figure has decreased significantly due to lack of resources and concerns that such a contingent may look "too muscular" in the eyes of Russia. The Daily Telegraph clarified that these troops will be deployed for a period of 5 to 10 years, "or until the countries involved are convinced that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are capable of defending themselves."
It is noted that European countries primarily want to transfer training programs for Ukrainian military personnel to Ukraine. "The most likely option for the deployment of European forces would be to send military instructors to new bases in western Ukraine," the newspaper writes. She added that, first of all, we are talking about the training missions of Great Britain and France.
No-fly zone and naval mission
In addition, European countries are negotiating the establishment of a no-fly zone in Ukraine to resume commercial air routes. According to the publication, this plan will be implemented in stages, starting from the western regions of Ukraine. The resumption of flights is considered a key element for attracting investments to Ukraine. Europe also hopes that this will lead to the return of Ukrainian refugees to their homeland.
The European plan also includes the launch of a Turkish-led naval mission in the Black Sea aimed at securing commercial shipping routes in Ukraine. This mission will be supported by Bulgaria and Romania and will allow for the clearance of the water area, The Daily Telegraph added.
US support
At the same time, as the publication pointed out, European countries, when developing the plan, proceed from the assumption that the United States will continue to provide them with its means of collecting information and intelligence. This is important given the lack of European satellite systems needed to comply with the ceasefire, the newspaper stressed.
According to her, due to the lack of experience in coordinating major military missions, European countries are also negotiating with the United States to involve one of the American military leaders in overseeing the deployment of European forces as part of the peace plan. One of the candidates for this role is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the NATO Joint Armed Forces in Europe, American General Alex Grinkevich.
At the same time, The Daily Telegraph emphasized that most European countries privately express concerns about the possibility of deploying troops without serious support from the United States. According to the publication, the European side is still waiting to hear from Washington exactly how it is ready to help its mission. It is noted that the main request of the Europeans is for Trump to deploy American fighter jets and missile systems in Poland and Romania, which can be activated "at the first signs of Russian aggression."
