Bloomberg: UK, France push security plan for Ukraine amid US shift

The United Kingdom and France are working to strengthen Ukraine’s negotiating position as former U.S. President Donald Trump pushes for a settlement in its war with Russia. 

Europe’s two nuclear powers are leading efforts to establish long-term security guarantees for Kyiv, amid Russian demands for a scaled-down Ukrainian military, Caliber,Az reports via Bloomberg.

Defense ministers from Europe’s five key military powers—France, the UK, Germany, Italy, and Poland—met in Paris on Wednesday to coordinate military support for Ukraine. French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu emphasized that Ukraine’s own military remains its first line of defense, with continued European assistance in armament, training, and technology.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius noted that Europe could step in to replace certain U.S. contributions, including ammunition and satellite communications if needed. Lecornu also stressed the need for Europe to advance its space technology and reduce dependence on Starlink.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are spearheading talks among 37 nations to form a “coalition of the willing,” which could provide military and financial assistance to Ukraine in a post-settlement scenario. The coalition aims to deploy troops, aircraft, and naval forces to deter further Russian aggression. Some non-NATO allies, including Australia, Japan, and New Zealand, have also joined discussions.

Defense officials see the presence of European troops in Ukraine as key to securing a lasting peace, but Russia has warned against any NATO military presence. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described such a move as a direct threat.

Military leaders will soon present Starmer and Macron with detailed proposals for a security force, which will be discussed in a virtual summit this weekend. European leaders hope to persuade Trump to support security guarantees in intelligence and airpower without deploying U.S. troops.

By Khagan Isayev