Europe and US develop postwar support plan for Ukraine, NYT reveals details
Illustrative photo: the plan envisages, among other things, the deployment of foreign troops if needed (Getty Images)
The United States, together with its European partners, has drafted two documents outlining a plan to support Ukraine after a potential peace agreement is reached, according to sources at The New York Times.
According to the newspaper, the plan is to strengthen Ukraine’s Armed Forces, deploying European troops on Ukrainian territory to deter a possible renewed Russian invasion, and more active use of US intelligence capabilities.
One of the documents, which NYT sources describe as an "operational military" paper, contains detailed provisions on cooperation between US and European forces and the Armed Forces of Ukraine aimed at preventing Russia from seizing additional territory.
Neither document has been made public so far. However, informed sources say they include specific directives for various scenarios involving a potential new Russian invasion. An unnamed US official noted that the documents "very clearly" spell out deterrence mechanisms and response measures in the event hostilities resume.
One of the key objectives outlined is to increase the size of Ukraine’s Armed Forces to 800,000 in peacetime. To achieve this, Ukraine will require stable and substantial support from its partners. A European diplomat said the documents contain a list of specific weapons and military capabilities needed by Kyiv, but did not disclose details.
The plan also describes the role of European security forces that could operate in Ukraine, including ensuring security in the air and maritime domains. Such units are expected to be based mainly in western Ukraine, although the list of participating countries has not yet been determined.
Separate provisions outline US involvement in detecting potential Russian false-flag operations that Moscow could use as a pretext to resume hostilities.
European officials say cooperation with US negotiators and US President Donald Trump has improved significantly in recent weeks.
"We are seeing real and concrete progress," Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said Tuesday. "That progress is made possible thanks to the alignment between Ukraine, Europe, and the United States."
Peace deal
US President Donald Trump said Ukraine is closer to peace than ever before. He made the remarks after talks in Berlin involving US, European, and Ukrainian delegations.
Progress toward peace in Ukraine became possible after Washington proposed a peace plan last month. Although the document initially consisted of 28 points, most of which did not align with Kyiv’s interests and instead favored the aggressor, the plan has since changed. At present, the US peace initiative envisages a framework agreement, security guarantees, and a document on Ukraine’s postwar recovery.
At the same time, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier that the plan is expected to be divided into five documents and that once Kyiv is as close as possible to reaching an agreement with Russia, the head of state will meet with US President Donald Trump. The latter, in turn, has grown tired of meetings that yield no results, according to a recent statement by White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt.
