Key points
- Britain and France plan to create a European “reassurance force” to protect Ukraine after ceasefire
- Zelensky had previously called for a Western deterrence force to help secure a lasting peace
- Ready to resume diplomacy with Russian president to end the war: Trump
PARIS: Britain and France are spearheading attempts to create a European “reassurance force” of fewer than 30,000 troops to protect Ukraine after any ceasefire deal with Russia, UK media reported Thursday.
Speaking to AFP, a French source close to the discussions partially confirmed the reports, saying France was working with European countries to ensure security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire agreement.
UK-France proposal
The UK-France proposal — attributed to unnamed western officials — would likely focus on air and maritime defence, with “minimal” forces on the ground and none near the eastern frontline, the Guardian newspaper said.
The Times reported that a so-called US backstop in the form of “air cover” would be essential to the plan, which would seek to deter Russia from violating any agreement.
“The area we have a significant advantage over Russia is in the air and in (our) ability to respond to flagrant abuses of a ceasefire,” the Financial Times quoted a western official as saying.
It is unclear whether the considerations would satisfy Kyiv or be acceptable to Moscow.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously called for a western deterrence force of more than 100,000 personnel to help secure a lasting peace.
Ceasefire
Russia told the US in talks Tuesday that it opposed any NATO member sending troops to Ukraine as part of a ceasefire, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Trump said he is ready to resume diplomacy with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war, over the heads of European countries and Kyiv.
Both French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer are due to make visits to the White House to meet Trump next week.
