In a meeting held in Paris on Tuesday, military leaders from various European and international regions gathered to discuss the formulation of a potential international security force to bolster Ukraine. Initiated by France and Britain, the plan aims to prevent further Russian incursion into Ukraine should a ceasefire agreement be reached between Kyiv and Moscow. Though still in preliminary stages, the meeting sought to explore which countries might be inclined to participate in this coalition without requiring commitments to specific troop numbers or resources at this point.
With Ukraine under pressure from the U.S., particularly President Donald Trump, to engage in peace discussions, the French and British move to establish security assurances forms a significant diplomatic strategy. Concurrently, Ukrainian and U.S. officials participated in separate negotiations in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, focused on halting the conflict instigated by Russia in 2022. French President Emmanuel Macron was present for part of the discussions in Paris, engaging with military chiefs from 34 nations and representatives joining remotely from countries such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. Macron emphasized the need for transitioning from a conceptual framework to a defined plan accompanied by NATO’s capabilities, without indicating specific details.
During the meeting, Slovenia’s army chief Lt. Gen. Robert Glavaš expressed his country’s willingness to contribute to the initiative, though he required further clarity on how the security force might operate post-ceasefire, its mission, potential member countries, and whether it would have a mandate from organizations like the United Nations. “The question is: ‘What next?'” he queried, highlighting concerns about the availability of troops, especially in smaller European nations.
Currently, no clear military action plan exists, with discussions ongoing among Western and Ukrainian officials in Kyiv, Paris, and London. A French military official stated that the U.S. was not invited to the Paris talks to signify Europe’s readiness to lead the effort to secure Ukraine post-ceasefire. The key concern for Ukrainian officials is the coalition’s response if Russia breaks a future truce, including whether it would undertake military action and how promptly. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has cautiously welcomed the idea, asserting that foreign troops alone are insufficient for Ukraine’s security, advocating for U.S. and European weapons support and the development of Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
Amid mixed signals from the U.S., the French-British plan includes a robust military force aimed at deterring Russia from future aggression. The force may encompass extensive weapon stockpiles and heavy weaponry, potentially deployable within hours or days to defend Ukraine. Additionally, immediate strikes on Russian assets, if a ceasefire is breached, form part of the considerations. Technical discussions have continued across Western capitals and Ukraine.
Earlier proposals suggested a modest Europe-centric “reassurance force” of fewer than 30,000 troops. However, troop numbers remain under discussion, with suggestions of stationing forces at key infrastructure locations and employing technologies like drones for front-line monitoring. Air and naval power might also support the initiative, ensuring the security of Ukraine’s airspace and international waters. The objective is to galvanize European nations’ capabilities into a transparent, verifiable, and dependable security guarantee.
Optimism persists among Ukrainian officials about the coalition, despite NATO being an unlikely option. A month-long ceasefire, as a trust-building measure proposed by Zelenskyy and European leaders, could be an initial step. “I fully believe it’s very possible,” a senior Ukrainian official remarked, underscoring the importance of European involvement to position itself as a formidable entity. “If they lose this opportunity, we will be in a very difficult situation,” he concluded.
