Europe Shifts Away From Idea Of Deploying Troops To Ukraine

Europe is divided over how to defend Ukraine.

European countries supporting Ukraine in the conflict with Russia are shifting away from the idea of deploying troops to the country, according to a report by the Financial Times.

Even British Prime Minister Keir Starmer appears to have stepped back from his pledge to put boots on the ground in Ukraine, saying instead that allied forces would be deployed by sea and air.

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This week Starmer held a meeting with military planners from 31 countries to discuss how European nations could approach the end of hostilities.

RT reports: Russia has insisted that it will not tolerate troops from NATO countries in Ukraine, regardless of how such a mission is branded by the US-led military bloc. Proponents such as UK leader Starmer have advocated for a so-called “peacekeeping force” to oversee a potential ceasefire.

The FT described a “noticeable shift from European ground troops to air and sea patrols” during a recent phone call regarding Western strategy, citing a participant in the discussion. Additionally, Starmer has reportedly acknowledged that the US will not provide a military “backstop” for any mission in Ukraine, as was publicly stated by the administration of President Donald Trump.

Trump aims to transfer responsibility for Ukrainian security to European NATO members after negotiating a truce with Russia, asserting that the US and NATO should play no role in future arrangements.

Meanwhile, the EU faces challenges in replacing US military assistance for Kiev. Member states failed to reach an agreement on Thursday concerning €40 billion ($43 billion) in additional military aid for Ukraine, a proposal pushed by the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas. A less ambitious plan to allocate €5 billion ($5.4 billion) to supply 2 million artillery shells reportedly remains stuck in diplomatic limbo.