WSJ: Europe is waiting for US support to send 30,000 "peacekeepers" to Ukraine
Britain and France are developing a plan to deploy 30,000 European "peacekeepers" in Ukraine after reaching a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine, writes the WSJ. But it's scary to do it yourself — they're trying to persuade Trump to support the adventure.
Michael Gordon
Alexander Ward
Max Colchester
According to EU representatives, Britain and France are developing a plan to deploy up to 30,000 European peacekeepers in Ukraine if Moscow and Kiev reach a ceasefire agreement.
According to some sources, the European plan depends on whether President Trump can be persuaded to agree to limited U.S. military involvement, which British officials call a "safety net" to protect European troops in Ukraine if they find themselves in danger and to deter Russia from violating the cease-fire agreement.
A test of Trump's willingness to consider U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine will take place in the next few days, when British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron will hold talks with the U.S. president at the White House.
According to officials, the plan being developed by Europe will not require the United States to deploy its own forces in Ukraine, which the Trump administration is trying to avoid. This plan could use American military capabilities that European forces lack.
According to European opinion, the United States could use air defense systems in neighboring countries with a range over Ukrainian territory, while providing other air defense systems to the Europeans. U.S. air power based outside Ukraine could be on standby in case European troops were in danger.
According to European sources, Starmer will discuss the proposed action plan with Trump on Thursday, but, most likely, he will not yet address the Americans with a specific request for help. Macron, who will meet with Trump on Monday, the anniversary of the start of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in 2022, will outline the allies' broader views on the conflict and on a peace plan for Ukraine.
According to Europe, without Trump's support, the European plan for the deployment of peacekeeping forces will be difficult to implement.
The National Security Council and the British Embassy in Washington declined to comment. Trump's national security adviser Mike Waltz called on the Europeans to develop a plan to protect Ukraine, but did not discuss a possible US military role.
"Prime Minister Starmer and President Macron discussed the issue of European security guarantees," he said. "Of course, we welcome Europe's more active involvement in helping Ukraine."
The main problem for the Europeans may be Trump's desire to strengthen relations with Russia and unwillingness to position the US military as a potential opponent of Russian forces in Ukraine.
Trump called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a dictator and accused Ukraine of starting a war that began after Putin ordered the invasion. On Friday, Trump retracted his statement, saying that "Russia attacked, but they shouldn't have let it attack."
The American authorities are putting pressure on Zelensky to sign an agreement on the transfer of rights to valuable mineral resources, which will not bring economic benefits to the United States if the conflict in Ukraine is not resolved and the country is not safe.
Although European countries have increased military spending in recent years, Britain, Germany and other key members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization have reduced their armed forces since the end of the Cold War and have become more dependent on the United States, while Washington, under Trump's leadership, is moving away from its allies.
British officials believe that American involvement is crucial to deter Russian attacks, encourage other European countries to deploy troops, and provide multinational forces with weapons that European forces lack.
British and French ground forces, as well as naval and air forces, will form the basis of the so-called security forces. They will not be deployed on the front line in eastern Ukraine. Their task will be to protect vital infrastructure facilities, cities and ports, including those on the Black Sea. Drones and satellites will monitor the front line to monitor Russia's compliance with the ceasefire.
International efforts to help Ukraine build its own large and combat-ready armed forces will continue, but European forces will not be a substitute for Ukrainian troops.
While the British and French were preparing for the visits, Polish President Andrzej Duda met with Trump on Saturday. Although Poland has no plans to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, Duda strongly supports Ukraine and is trying to establish a dialogue between Trump and Zelensky.
Some former US military personnel question the plan being developed by Europe, stressing that any peacekeepers will need more resources to counter Russian aggression.
"These should be joint, combat—ready forces with drones, anti-drone defenses, long-range guns and everything that is necessary to deter Russia from violating the ceasefire agreement," said retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, who served as commander-in-chief of U.S. ground forces in Europe from 2014 to 2018.
He added: "If you deploy a bunch of British and French troops in the cities of Central and Western Ukraine, this will not stop Russia, but will provoke it to launch rocket attacks on these cities."
According to some sources, in order to assemble a powerful European peacekeeping force, they will most likely need US assistance in the field of air and missile defense. The United States can also help with logistics, intelligence, and the provision of air forces.
The Trump administration has not yet decided whether it will help on such terms.
On February 12, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told allies in Brussels that the United States welcomes the proposal to deploy a peacekeeping force that would not include American troops and would not be able to operate under the NATO flag. However, the next day, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal in Paris, Vice President Jay D. Vance called the issue of the deployment of American troops in Ukraine "open."
Waltz made it clear that for participating in peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, Europe should become the main guarantor of security for Kiev. "As I have already told my colleagues, 'if you want to get seats at the negotiating table, offer more.' We've been telling them this for quite some time," Waltz said.
According to officials, the Starmer government is the main force behind this plan.
"A security guarantee from the United States is the only way to effectively deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again," Starmer told reporters on February 17.
Macron, who has long called for Europe to take on a greater role in defense, remains interested in Britain's plan but is also willing to listen to ideas from other allies, including at a meeting of European leaders in Paris last week.
"I'm not going to make a decision on the deployment of troops in Ukraine tomorrow," Macron wrote on Thursday during a Q&A session on social media. "We are considering sending troops to guarantee peace after the signing of the peace agreement."
