White House, Pentagon back European-led postwar mission in Ukraine

Support is mounting within the White House and the Pentagon for a European-led postwar mission in Ukraine, backed by U.S. intelligence, logistics and air support but without American boots on the ground. 

In its opinion piece, Politico notes that while such a deployment would not provide Ukraine with the NATO Article 5 guarantee sought by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, it could be the strongest security assurance Kyiv can expect for now.

European troops stationed in Ukraine would serve as both a visible deterrent to Russian President Vladimir Putin and a “tripwire” force, ensuring that renewed aggression would come at the cost of European lives and an inevitable response.

According to Politico, the mission would complement U.S. forces already in Europe under Operation Atlantic Resolve, where around 6,000 American troops — including tankers, infantry, artillery and aviation units — are deployed as a credible deterrent and a foundation for larger reinforcements if required. Together, this US presence and a European deployment would buy NATO time and space to mobilise against any Russian advance.

The opinion pieced adds that the operation would be an important step in improving Europe’s independent military capabilities. While EU-led missions in Bosnia, Kosovo, the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean were largely successful, they were limited in scale.

A Ukraine mission would expose Europe’s deficiencies in full-spectrum operations, from shortages of helicopters, artillery ammunition and airlift to the lack of basic field supplies such as fuel tankers, camouflage nets and heaters for troops.

Politico also emphasises that Washington’s role would be confined to “over-the-horizon” support, including intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and long-range air defense. However, the outlet cautions that US military “mission creep” is a risk, recalling how NATO’s Afghanistan deployment in 2006 soon required extensive American support despite initial promises of European self-sufficiency.

Ultimately, Politico writes, the hardest part will be convincing European publics to back a mission that would put their soldiers in harm’s way. Yet if properly manned and equipped, such a force could provide Ukraine with meaningful security guarantees, deter further Russian aggression, and help rebuild Europe’s long-neglected defense capabilities.

By Sabina Mammadli