Media: Europe considers sending up to 100,000 servicemen to Ukraine in case of ceasefire  

European countries are in discussions about potentially sending troops to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire or peace agreement.

US President-elect Donald Trump has made it clear that he will not commit American forces on the ground to ensure security, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media. 

The talks, which are being spearheaded by French President Emmanuel Macron, are still in the early stages, but have already highlighted differences over the potential objectives and mandate of such a mission – and even the timing of raising the issue. 

A deterrent force could be formed from a coalition of five to eight countries, a Ukrainian official involved in the discussions said. Estimates of the size of the force vary, depending on the specific mission. Some analysts suggest that around 40,000 troops might be realistic.

However, under a rotational scheme, where units are either preparing for deployment or reconstituting after a mission, up to 100,000 troops could be involved at any given time, according to Franz-Stefan Gady, an Austrian former military planner now at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. 

“It’s going to severely stretch European land forces, for sure,” Gady stated. A European security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also indicated that up to 100,000 troops could be required. Gady added that such a force could be feasible if some European nations reduced their commitments to other missions, such as peacekeeping in the Balkans. In the 1990s, Europe, the US, and other partners deployed around 60,000 troops to Bosnia and 50,000 to Kosovo, though these missions are significantly smaller today.

The composition of any international force is still under discussion, as its makeup must be acceptable to both sides in the conflict, and its mandate needs to be clearly defined. Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto argued that any mission would need to be conducted under the auspices of the United Nations. However, other officials believe that this would grant Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, too much influence. According to analysts, Europe would also likely need to convince the United States to participate in some capacity, possibly through intelligence sharing and operational support. 

On November 29, Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service reported that NATO plans to send "so-called peacekeepers" to Ukraine, with the number of troops potentially reaching 100,000. The Foreign Intelligence Service also claimed that the West intends to divide Ukraine's territories for effective occupation, allocating them among Germany, Poland, Romania, and the UK.

By Naila Huseynova