Six European countries from the “coalition of the willing” have signaled that they are prepared to send troops to Ukraine as security guarantees in the event of a ceasefire, AFP reported.
Among the countries named are the United Kingdom, France, and the Baltic states — Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. AFP did not identify the sixth country.
Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson said Stockholm still had “a number of questions that we need to get clarified” before taking on any commitments. “It's helpful if there's a clarity of what that mission would entail, and what do we do — if we are peacekeeping, deterrence or reassurance,” he said.
The “coalition of the willing,” formed by European nations after Donald Trump came to power in the United States and led by France and Britain, now includes 30 countries. According to AFP, representatives of the remaining member states say there is still uncertainty about the objectives of any potential deployment and whether it would be backed by U.S. military power.
“What is the mandate? What would do we do in the different scenarios, for example, if there would be any escalation regarding Russia?” Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans asked.
According to a source cited by RBC Ukraine, a major incentive for other countries to join would be a willingness by Germany to send its own troops. However, several sources told the outlet that Germany’s participation is considered “highly unlikely due to various political reasons.”
Another challenge for European governments seeking to craft a coordinated plan, AFP noted, is that they have little insight into the current ceasefire discussions between the United States and Russia.