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European leaders are at loggerheads over whether to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, the Financial Times reports, after a crisis meeting in Paris hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.
European leaders are reportedly trying to reach a consensus on how to respond to US President Donald Trump's peace talks with Russia. Poland and Spain expressed their reluctance to send peacekeepers to Ukraine, hours after Britain offered to send its troops as part of security guarantees for Kyiv.
The publication shared that representatives of six European Union countries, Great Britain, as well as NATO officials are present at the meeting in Paris.
France has proposed discussing the creation of a “security force” to be deployed behind a future ceasefire line in Ukraine, two officials familiar with the preparations for the meeting told reporters.
The publication emphasized that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated at the meeting that he was ready and willing to send British troops to Ukraine if necessary. However, leaders of other countries are more reluctant.
“Right now, no one is considering sending troops to Ukraine. The world is still very far away, and for only one reason – Vladimir Putin,” said Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Álvarez.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said at the meeting that Poland is also not ready to send its troops to Ukraine, but promised that his country would continue to assist Kyiv.
The publication added that European leaders also plan to discuss options for increasing defense spending and Europe's military potential. They are considering the option of joint financing.
Sending peacekeepers to Ukraine – important news
Recall that Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that his country will not send its peacekeepers to Ukraine. According to him, Warsaw will continue to support Ukraine according to its capabilities.
In addition, Davis Ellison, an analyst at the Center for Strategic Studies in The Hague, named the main problem with European peacekeepers in Ukraine. He noted that Europe must decide for what purpose it can send troops to Ukraine.
