Europe considering deploying air and naval forces to Ukraine – WaPo
France and the UK are leading discussions on sending a military force to Ukraine, with the focus shifting to a potential deployment of air and naval forces amid ongoing ceasefire negotiations, the Washington Post reported on Sunday, citing sources. The two countries seek to send a European-led ‘reassurance force’ to Ukraine to secure cities and key sites away from the front lines and to provide logistical support and training to the Ukrainian army. As part of the effort, a French-British military team plans to visit Ukraine in the coming weeks to assess the number of troops needed and potential deployment locations, the WaPo says. According to unnamed diplomats familiar with the matter, “the European focus has also shifted to air and sea power” due to concerns over whether the West would be able to maintain a large deployment of ground troops, while some NATO members have proposed using their assets to patrol the skies or the Black Sea. However, some European officials doubt that a ceasefire – a precondition for deploying troops – will be reached soon, a WaPo source said. According to the paper, some diplomats describe the discussions about sending the military to Ukraine “as an exercise in preparation and leverage.” Several European countries are reportedly hesitant to send troops without a promise from the US to intervene in case of an escalation, with European officials seeking American support in the form of air defense assets, intelligence, and heavy airlift. However, US President Donald Trump has not provided assurances, with officials from his team offering mixed signals over whether the option is even on the table. While Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, recently described the initiative as “simplistic,” a French official familiar with the matter told the WaPo that the discussions are proceeding “in perfect harmony with our American partners, who are interested in this approach and have told us it’s a good one.” Russia has warned against any unauthorized deployment of foreign troops to Ukraine, which it would consider to be legitimate targets. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said Moscow is opposed to the idea of deploying NATO troops to Ukraine, regardless of whether they are “under a foreign flag, under the flag of the European Union or national flags.”
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