Europe faces test of commitment as Trump pushes for acceleration in Ukraine talks Article by Foreign Policy

For years, Europe has viewed Russia’s aggression as an existential threat to its security. The continent's strategy for stopping the war in Ukraine is often summed up as “peace through strength.” In response, it has sent military aid and financial assistance to help turn Ukraine into a resilient state capable of defending itself. But with Washington accelerating efforts for a peace deal with Russia, Europe faces a critical question: Is it ready to provide the strength needed to secure peace? Will it abandon caution and send troops to Ukraine as a security guarantee, despite the risk of casualties and political backlash at home?

The real challenge that European leaders now face as the dynamics surrounding the war are swiftly and, in some cases, drastically changing, is whether they are willing to take that slogan beyond the rhetoric realm.

Expert opinions collected by the Foreign Policy journal suggest scepticism. “Europeans don’t want to die for Ukraine,” Gérard Araud, a former French ambassador to Washington, said over the phone, echoing views of several diplomats and analysts.

“The man on the street considers Ukraine a faraway place and believes Europe has already paid enough,” Araud added. “He doesn’t want to get physically involved. Tomorrow, if Ukraine was defeated and Kyiv was taken, Europeans will say: ‘oh, too bad, too bad,’ but then resume their lives as normal.”

According to the article, many experts argue that Europe’s response since the war began has been overly cautious, excessively worried about Putin’s reaction, and ultimately self-interested—even as Ukrainians bear the burden of defending Europe.

Over the past three years, Europe has rolled out sweeping sanctions, slashed Russian energy imports, and provided weapons and training. It has introduced programs for refugee protection, recovery funding, and duty-free trade, amounting to billions in support. Yet critics claim these steps remain half-measures.

Last week, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Brussels before heading to Washington, EU leaders reaffirmed their intent to maintain economic pressure and roll out a 19th sanctions package next month.

“The clue to the effectiveness of this approach perhaps lies in the number of the sanctions package. There is no reason to believe that another round of punitive economic measures could discourage Russia from occupying even more Ukrainian land,” the article warns.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has repeatedly said allies will help Ukraine become a “steel porcupine,” referring to building a strong defence industry. But experts argue that real deterrence might require European troops on Ukrainian soil.

Is there substance behind the buzzword “security guarantees”?

Since returning from Washington, European leaders have been scrambling to define security guarantees for Ukraine. France and the UK lead the so-called “coalition of the willing”—a group of more than 30 nations pledging to oversee any peace deal, though few consider deploying troops. Critics note the plan remains riddled with uncertainties months after its inception, and no major power is willing to move before Moscow agrees to a cease-fire. Most expect US military backing as a prerequisite.

Paris and London insist hostilities must end first. French President Emmanuel Macron, who floated the idea, said any deployment would be limited to “strategic locations,” not front-line positions.

So far, Estonia has been the only nation, however, to confirm readiness to “contribute with boots on the ground.”

Denmark and Sweden have previously signalled interest, provided a cease-fire is in place, while the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF)—a coalition of 10 non-NATO nations capable of supporting NATO operations—could also join the effort.

Finland, a JEF member, is reluctant and prefers to keep troops home to protect its 1,340-kilometer border with Russia.

Historic grievances and logistical shortcomings

Even Poland—seen as the next target if Russia advances—has declined to send troops. Araud explained that history complicates the issue: “European history is very complicated. What is now western Ukraine was taken by the Soviets from Poland. Lviv was largely a Polish city before the Second World War, and [the] Polish far right claims these territories,” he said, warning that Moscow exploits these divisions.

Major players like Italy and Germany are also hesitant. “The idea to send troops isn’t well thought through. I don’t think the German parliament would agree to it,” said André Härtel of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

Berlin cites troop shortages and difficulty meeting NATO obligations. Military service lacks prestige in Germany, where pacifist sentiment runs deep. Its main objection, however, is the absence of US troops, which would provide a superior deterrent if tensions escalate with Russia.

Italy supports a security framework involving the US, but favours one that avoids direct deployment or involvement in current fighting. The plan would resemble a NATO-style guarantee activated only if Russia attacks again. “This would make it more acceptable to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin,” said Giovanbattista Fazzolari, a cabinet undersecretary, to Italian media.

Julian Popov, a Bulgarian British politician and a senior fellow at Strategic Perspectives, is not convinced by those developments. Speaking to the publication, he stated that he was quite certain that European troops would not be deployed on the Ukrainian battlefield but added that it was not even required.

“The nature of war, and the technology with which it is fought, is changing so much that it is no longer about sending tanks and planes and soldiers, but much more about high-end technologies,” he said, citing drones as a game-changer in Ukraine. He believes European firms and governments will focus on investing in Ukraine’s fast-developing defence tech sector.

As the world awaits whether the highly anticipated face-to-face meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian leader will truly take place, as previously hinted by US President Trump, it remains to be seen whether the European governments are willing to up the stakes and increase their personal committeemen to ending the bloodshed in Ukraine.

By Nazrin Sadigova