The United Kingdom and France are working to create a European “guarantee force” to deter a potential Russian attack on Ukraine in the event of a U.S.-brokered peace deal, The Guardian reports.
Western officials estimate that the force will not exceed 30,000 troops and will focus mainly on air and naval defense. Ground units will be limited and not deployed in eastern Ukraine, which is close to the front line.
The main goals are to safely reopen Ukrainian airspace to civilian aviation and to ensure commercial shipping in the Black Sea, which is vital for the country’s food and grain exports.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Washington next week to persuade Donald Trump to support the plan and ensure that the European “guarantee force” does not encounter Russian resistance in the future.
At the same time, Russia has stated that it is categorically opposed to any NATO country deploying troops in Ukraine after the war.
