NATO could collapse: Diplomat warns against deploying peacekeepers in Ukraine

According to the diplomat, the deployment of European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine without US involvement could lead to the collapse of the North Atlantic Alliance (NATO).

Politico reminded that, in recent months, the UK and France have intensified efforts to form a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine led by European countries with the goal of ending the three-year war with Russia. At the same time, Ischinger issued a warning about the deployment of military equipment from NATO member countries in Ukraine without the participation of US forces.

“I don’t think that the Russians would ever, ever agree to that under any circumstances. But even if they agreed, I think we would need to insist that the US is really involved in this," said the diplomat.

According to him, without US support, Russia could exploit the situation and provoke, claiming that the Ukrainians started some shooting and they need to respond to it.

"And therefore the Europeans in Ukraine would possibly be shot at, and would need to reply, to engage without the United States on their side. Quite frankly, that would be the end of NATO as we know it. I don’t think it’s a good idea to allow Russia to split us up, and that would really be the de facto end of NATO," Ischinger emphasized.

His position, shared by several leading security experts, highlights the core issue in the approach of European countries to supporting Ukraine amid uncertainty from the Donald Trump administration regarding further commitments to Kyiv and the future of NATO. According to Ischinger, Russia does not perceive Europe as a serious military force without US involvement.

"Europe, at this moment, is not capable of defending itself," he noted.

Ischinger also described the events of the last 100 days as an electric shock for European politicians. In his view, EU countries need to much more actively stand on their own feet both in military and strategic political terms.

At the same time, the diplomat expressed the belief that the Trump administration will sooner or later realize the necessity of cooperating with European partners on key national security issues, including the war in Ukraine and negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program.

"Has this approach of simply sidelining Europe, not talking to Europe, talking to Russia about Ukraine without Europe, talking to Tehran about the nuclear issue without Europe, has this led to any visible success? Not that I can tell. I think that the United States will sooner or later come to grips with this and reengage with Europe again," added the head of the Munich Security Conference.

This week, Ischinger, along with dozens of high-ranking officials in the field of transatlantic security, will arrive in Washington.

They will hold meetings with officials from the administration of US President Donald Trump, during which they plan to discuss a peace plan for ending the war in Ukraine, as well as other current challenges. The negotiations will take place in a closed format under the auspices of the Munich Security Conference.

Peace process between the US and Ukraine

In March, French President Emmanuel Macron proposed the deployment of so-called deterrence forces on Ukrainian territory under Kyiv's control once the war ends.

According to media reports, the US is allegedly offering security guarantees to the so-called coalition of the willing rather than directly to Ukraine.

After several months of dramatic negotiations, the Trump administration and Ukraine signed an economic cooperation agreement on April 30, granting the US access to Ukraine's mineral resources in exchange for continued US funding for Ukraine.

The minerals deal was seen as a positive sign of restoring relations between Washington and Kyiv after tense meetings between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in February. However, the document does not contain firm US security guarantees for Ukraine.

Trump and his ambassador, who is negotiating with the Russians, Steve Witkoff, also put forward a peace proposal that would freeze the conflict at the current lines of contact, giving Russia significant territorial concessions and potentially making Ukraine's NATO membership impossible.

Currently, Russia has rejected the Trump administration's proposals and intensified attacks on Ukraine. Leading Republican allies of Trump on Capitol Hill are insisting on increasing sanctions against Russia if it continues to reject peace talks.

European leaders are concerned about Trump's questionable commitment to supporting NATO and Ukraine, in addition to other provocative actions, such as imposing high tariffs on allies and openly considering buying Greenland from Denmark.