European officials prepare for Ukraine support without US backing

British and French officials are drawing up plans for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine as concerns grow that US President Donald Trump may scale back American involvement in the conflict. 

At a high-level meeting in The Hague, European officials agreed to shift their focus from deploying troops to enforce a ceasefire to sustaining Ukraine’s long-term defence against Russia without relying on full US backing.

“Let’s get real and admit the US will never be on board,” a Western official told The Telegraph, reflecting the grim mood at the talks, Caliber.Az reports.

There is growing concern among European allies that President Trump may abandon the US role as a mediator after failing to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table. 

A European diplomat at the meeting added, “It was mostly about how to sustain the necessary support to Ukraine when we assume that the US would only continue providing some specific assets, such as intelligence. We also agreed on the need to step up economic pressure on Russia.”

The gathering of political directors from foreign ministries marked a significant shift in the direction of the “Coalition of the willing,” a proposal led by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. The initiative had originally envisioned European troops supporting a peace agreement facilitated by the United States.

Although more than 30 nations have shown support for the idea, only a small number have publicly offered to send troops to Ukraine. One of the central issues discussed has been whether the US under Trump would be willing to offer a “security guarantee” or serve as a “back-up” force, as described by UK officials.

So far, the coalition has not officially acknowledged any change in its approach. However, with President Putin resisting international pressure for a ceasefire, hopes for a peace deal continue to fade.

European leaders also agreed to invite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to attend the NATO summit in The Hague next month.

By Sabina Mammadli