Media: European leaders consider troop presence in post-conflict Ukraine As Security Guarantee

A group of European countries, led by Britain and France, is quietly devising a plan to deploy troops in Ukraine as part of a broader security guarantee following any peace settlement with Russia.

With growing concern that U.S. priorities may shift, particularly under a potential Trump administration, European officials are exploring ways to ensure Ukraine’s safety after years of conflict, Caliber.Az reports via The Associated Press.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stressed the need for a security guarantee, as NATO membership remains off the table, and he has insisted on a force of 100,000 to 150,000 troops. However, the specifics of any deployment remain uncertain.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged the importance of security for Ukraine, stating, “If there is peace then there needs to be some sort of security guarantee for Ukraine, and the U.K. will play its part in that.”

European nations are divided on the scale of the mission, with some, like Italy, facing constitutional restrictions on military action. The involvement of the U.S. also remains unclear. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized the need for international oversight but ruled out American troops in Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who initially suggested ground troops in early 2024, remarked, “We have to do things that are appropriate, realistic, well thought, measured and negotiated.”

Experts warn that any force deployed must be substantial, capable of deterring Russian aggression. Former U.S. Army Europe Commanding General Ben Hodges stressed, “It has to be a real force… if they go in there with a bunch of blue helmets and rifles, they will get crushed.”

Diplomatic discussions continue, with Europe aiming for a strategic and realistic security framework to safeguard Ukraine’s future.

By Aghakazim Guliyev