Europe may send up to 30,000 troops to Ukraine – WP
Photo: Europe may send up to 30,000 troops to Ukraine (Getty Images)
European countries may send between 25,000 and 30,000 troops to Ukraine as part of a potential ceasefire agreement, The Washington Post reports.
According to four informed officials, the estimated size of the potential European military contingent was revealed in response to a US request asking European nations to outline their capabilities to support Kyiv.
Sources told WP that European states are currently prepared to provide several brigades for potential deployment in Ukraine, with an estimated force of 25,000 to 30,000 troops.
The officials noted that European troops "would not be stationed along the contact line but would stand ready as a show of force if Russian forces tried to restart the war."
Additionally, forces in Ukraine could be backed by a larger contingent outside the country "in case they need to ramp up and move quickly."
According to the outlet, France carried out the most detailed military planning for such a mission and is expected to contribute around 10,000 troops.
Meanwhile, other European nations remain more hesitant or face challenges related to limited military resources.
Peacekeeping troops in Ukraine
Recently, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that he is ready and willing to deploy British troops to Ukraine to enforce a peace agreement if necessary.
Sweden has also not ruled out the possibility of sending peacekeeping forces to Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has made it clear that Poland will not send troops to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping mission. However, Warsaw remains committed to providing logistical, financial, humanitarian, and military support to Kyiv.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine has made significant progress in establishing a foreign military contingent on its territory. He suggested that this could be a first step toward the creation of a united European armed force.
