BRUSSELS โ The defense ministers of roughly 30 nations, led by Britain and France, are set to convene on Thursday to strategize over the deployment of troops to Ukraine. This initiative aims to facilitate and secure any prospective peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia. The gathering will occur at NATOโs headquarters, marking the inaugural defense ministersโ meeting within this newly formed coalition.
This coalition gathering follows a recent trip to Kyiv by high-ranking military officials from both Britain and France. The coalition is building upon a foundational agreement reached at a prior summit of national leaders. Notably absent from these discussions is direct participation by the United States, although the coalitionโs success may still hinge on U.S. military reinforcement in the form of airpower or similar support.
Despite this dependency, the current U.S. administration has yet to make any firm public commitments to assist. This lack of assurance comes amid U.S. admonitions for Europe to assume greater responsibility for its own security, including that of Ukraine. Consequently, this deployment initiative is being viewed as a crucial examination of Europeโs capability and resolve to defend its own interests independently.
The composition of this peacekeeping force remains contingent on the specifics of any future peace agreement. It is unlikely to be positioned directly at the Ukrainian-Russian border, but rather maintained at a safer distance from frontline tensions, possibly even outside Ukrainian territory, to act as a deterrent against any potential Russian aggression.
Mobilizing a force sizable enough to establish a credible deterrent presents a significant challenge for these nations, many of which had reduced their military forces following the Cold War and are now focusing on rearmament. Discussions have indicated that the proposed force could number between 10,000 to 30,000 troops. However, the willingness of countries to contribute personnel remains uncertain without confirmed U.S. backing.
The urgency of these discussions is underscored by reports from Ukrainian officials and military experts, who suggest that Russian forces are possibly gearing up for another military push into Ukraine. This potential escalation aims to increase pressure on Kyiv and boost Russiaโs position in any ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
Meanwhile, an effort to rally military support for Ukraine from a broader coalition will unfold on Friday, with delegates from roughly 50 nations gathering at NATO. Britain and Germany will spearhead this meeting, although U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is not slated to participate.