French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France and the United Kingdom would continue advancing plans to deploy troops to Ukraine to safeguard a potential peace agreement with Russia.
However, he noted that only a limited number of other European nations are interested in participating in the initiative. Macron made these comments on Thursday following a summit attended by leaders from nearly 30 countries, along with NATO and European Union officials, who have been deliberating the proposal.
The French leader stated that “several” other nations may want to be part of the armed force but added, “It is not unanimous.” Paris and London believe that such a contingent would serve to deter further Russian aggression and secure any peace deal. “We do not need unanimity to achieve it,” Macron asserted, indicating that French and British military officials would collaborate with Ukrainian authorities to determine suitable deployment locations and the necessary troop numbers to form a credible deterrent.
“There will be a reassurance force comprising several European nations that will deploy,” he emphasised. The summit took place at a critical juncture in the protracted conflict, with heightened diplomatic attempts to broker ceasefires, driven in part by pressure from U.S. President Trump. Despite these efforts, hostilities continue.
Prior to the leaders’ meeting at the French presidential palace, Russian drone attacks inflicted injuries on more than 20 people, while heavy shelling in Kherson resulted in at least one death and caused widespread power outages, according to Ukrainian officials. Macron and his fellow summit attendees accused Russia of merely feigning interest in a negotiated settlement. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer commented, “They are playing games and they’re playing for time. We can’t let them drag this out while they continue their illegal invasion.”
Recent U.S.-brokered agreements aimed at securing maritime safety in the Black Sea and halting long-range strikes on energy infrastructure have been viewed as initial steps towards peace. However, both Ukraine and Russia have disputed the specifics and accused one another of violating the terms, suggesting a challenging and drawn-out negotiation process ahead.
Some European nations have expressed hesitance regarding the possible troop deployment, primarily due to the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s support for potential military assistance, including air power. “This will require the engagement and support of the United States,” Starmer remarked. Macron noted that they might need to prepare for the scenario without U.S. backing. “You have to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst,” he stated. “My hope is that the Americans will be on our side and that they will support, even play an active role, but we have to be ready for a situation where they may not,” he added.
Establishing a sufficiently large force to act as an effective deterrent—U.K. officials have suggested a range of 10,000 to 30,000 troops—would pose a significant challenge for nations that had previously downsized their militaries after the Cold War and are currently in the process of rearming. Starmer’s office indicated that military planners from various countries are assessing a comprehensive array of military capabilities, including aircraft, tanks, troops, intelligence, and logistics.
Greece has publicly rejected the notion of sending troops, with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis describing the discussions as “somewhat divisive” and distracting from the goal of swiftly ending the war. Similarly, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reiterated that Rome will not contribute troops to a military force destined for Ukraine, stressing the necessity of collaboration with the U.S. in resolving the conflict and advocating for American representation in forthcoming coordination meetings.
As pressure from Trump on Europe to increase military expenditure and decrease reliance on U.S. forces continues, the proposed troop deployment is viewed as an indicator of the continent’s readiness to defend its interests. While the U.S. has led efforts in ceasefire discussions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insisted that Europe, represented by Macron and Starmer, must also play a pivotal role in the negotiations. “We do not consider any alternative. This is our firm stance. Europe is vast, and it must have clear representation in these negotiations,” he asserted.
Summit participants broadly agreed on the need to prolong and intensify sanctions on Russia’s economy to compel Moscow to engage in good faith negotiations. “Lifting sanctions on Russia right now would be a disaster for diplomacy,” Zelenskyy stated, emphasising that sanctions are among the few effective tools to pressure Russia into sincere talks.
Russia has demanded the lifting of sanctions as a condition for the Black Sea ceasefire. Though the White House indicated a willingness to assist in restoring access to international markets for Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports, it has not affirmed Moscow’s preconditions. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Russia’s demands would be evaluated and presented to Trump.
Zelenskyy remarked, “They’re dragging out discussions and attempting to ensnare the U.S. in protracted negotiations over insincere ‘conditions’ merely to buy time and potentially seize more territory
Source : AP
