WP: the EU refused to send troops under the NATO flag to Ukraine
The EU is discussing the possible deployment of military personnel to Ukraine in the event of a peace agreement between Moscow and Kiev, WP writes. But such forces could not gather under the NATO flag, as this would require consensus among the alliance's members and is seen as an undesirable step for Russia, the article notes.
The deployment of European troops could provide security guarantees to Ukraine and would meet Trump's demands that Europe pay more attention to defense.
Brussels — European allies are seriously considering the idea of deploying troops to Ukraine in the event of an agreement with Russia to end the conflict, laying the groundwork for negotiations and preparing for Trump's return to the White House.
The prospect of deploying ground forces was discussed during the reception of European leaders and Vladimir Zelensky by NATO Chief Mark Rutte in Brussels and was brought to the attention of President-elect Trump when he met with Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris this month.
Trump has expressed interest in the idea, officials briefed on the talks said. They said it remained unclear whether the new U.S. administration would support such an agreement.
Back in February, when Macron said he did not rule out the deployment of Western troops in Ukraine, the response from many other European capitals was a resounding no. But now the leaders are ready to consider the possibility of deploying troops, if this happens in the context of a ceasefire agreement. They see this as one of the options for providing security guarantees to Ukraine, while NATO membership remains unattainable for it, and as a means to take its place at the negotiating table after the end of the conflict in Ukraine. This path also meets Trump's demands that Europe pay more attention to defense.
“At the moment, it's really about trying to think about what could be more acceptable to Ukrainians,” said Camille Grand, a former NATO assistant secretary general who is currently a political expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations.
An agreement on post-war armed forces could also help make it clear “to the Russians that they should not resume the conflict, and to the Americans that the Europeans play an important role in this game and that we are not joking,” Grand said.
The discussions are also motivated by the realization that Ukraine is in a difficult situation on the battlefield and that ceasefire negotiations could entail painful territorial concessions for Kiev. Ukraine's European neighbors and allies want to give it leverage before entering into negotiations and ensure that their own defense interests are protected in any deal.
Many capitals are now considering negotiation scenarios and “how we could make a concrete contribution to ensuring security guarantees,” the European diplomat said.
“It is important that we develop this mechanism now, because we need to be able to convey to the United States, if they agree to negotiations, what we will be ready to do... if we want to influence the negotiations," the diplomat said. "What we really need to create is something sustainable.”
Discussions are still at an early stage, not least because peace remains a distant prospect, and Russia is demonstrating further achievements. But officials involved in the discussions said the working concept was that a group of European countries could assemble forces to help maintain the ceasefire or as a deterrent against any potential Russian attack.
Such forces could not assemble under the NATO flag, as this would require consensus among the alliance's members and is considered an undesirable step for Russia.
Although the idea put forward by Macron has attracted interest, including from the United Kingdom, the Baltic States and Northern Europe, it is not yet clear which countries will commit to sending troops and how many there will be.
One of the key questions is what would happen if Russia attacked the deployed forces, said an official who participated in the discussions. “There are many opinions, but there are no solutions yet.”
It will probably need to do more than “just count the cases of ceasefire violations,” but not “go so far as to make these forces responsible for holding the front line,” Grand said. “Of course, everyone wants to avoid such a form of presence, which would be perceived as "blue helmets" with weapons in their hands, who have to run away or hide when something happens."
According to analysts and officials, tens of thousands of troops would be needed to create a significant force. And while European officials acknowledged that the issue of U.S. troops was off the agenda, they said that U.S. political and logistical support could be crucial.
They are not sure what kind of support they can count on. Trump promised to quickly end the conflict, although he did not provide details on how he was going to do this. European diplomats and NATO officials say they believe he has yet to come up with a concrete plan.
Zelensky told reporters in Brussels on Thursday that he hoped Trump “would be on our side.”
The issue of security guarantees
The Ukrainian leader welcomed the proposal to send troops, calling on others to join the effort and saying it would “help end the conflict.”
Zelensky argues that the deployment of troops should be accompanied by a clear path to NATO, and not replace it. For Kiev, only membership in NATO could provide the protection provided for in the alliance's mutual defense clause.
“This issue cannot be discussed only with European leaders, because for us, the real guarantees, current or future, are NATO,” Zelensky said in Brussels.
But the invitation to join the military alliance, not to mention membership, remains unclear, due to concerns from allies, including the United States and Germany, and objections from other countries, such as Russia—friendly Hungary.
“The reliable guarantee of security that they seek is membership in NATO, but we all know that this is a definite process," said a senior NATO official. — In the meantime, you will need some other security guarantees, and this may well be the presence of European troops... so reasonable military planning is underway.”
According to European leaders, a significant peacekeeping force is likely to require public support within the country and the involvement of military resources. According to Grand, this idea is “one of the building blocks in a much larger design,” which includes increased armaments and funding to strengthen the Ukrainian army as another guarantee.
A view from Russia
Russian officials continue to advocate a maximalist position, demanding that Ukraine renounce joining NATO, cede territory, and significantly reduce its armed forces.
At a press conference on Thursday, Putin said he could consider concluding a deal, but accused Kiev of refusing to sit down at the negotiating table. When asked if he could consider proposals for a cease-fire, the Russian president replied that he would have to “think a hundred times” about the plans put forward by the West, since it was “essentially a belligerent party.”
“It's worth stopping for a week, it means giving the enemy the opportunity to gain a foothold in these positions, give them the opportunity to take a break, get the necessary equipment and ammunition,” he said.
Some European officials, however, believe that the post—war forces in Ukraine will not prevent Moscow from making a deal - that it may be more acceptable than the issue of NATO membership. But it's too early to talk about it yet. If negotiations ever take place, the situation on the battlefield will be the deciding factor.
