'Erosion of Resolve in the "Coalition of the Willing"' – The Times
France and the UK reportedly exhibited a declining commitment to sending troops to Ukraine during recent discussions in London, according to The Times, which cites anonymous sources. Defense officials from various European NATO countries have...
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France and the UK reportedly exhibited a declining commitment to sending troops to Ukraine during recent discussions in London, according to The Times, which cites anonymous sources.
Defense officials from various European NATO countries have been deliberating the potential deployment of forces to Ukraine as part of a so-called “coalition of the willing.”
This initiative, spearheaded by France and the UK, was suggested as a way to offer security assurances to Kiev in the event of a ceasefire with Russia. However, Moscow has firmly opposed the notion of US-led military bloc troops being sent to Ukraine under any circumstances.
Reports indicate that the UK-French plan was significantly dialed back during meetings in the UK capital on Wednesday. The newspaper noted, “Sir Keir Starmer and President Macron of France have offered to deploy troops to Ukraine to keep the peace as part of a ‘coalition of the willing,’ but during talks in London sources told The Times there appeared to be a softening of the commitment.”
Nevertheless, a defense source mentioned that the UK is not entirely prepared to abandon these plans. Some European officials understand that Moscow would never accept the presence of NATO members' troops in Ukraine, as reported by The Times.
Russia has warned that it would regard such a troop presence as a NATO deployment, regardless of the stated purpose, and would treat it as a legitimate military target. Moscow has consistently asserted that NATO's eastward expansion, along with Kiev’s ambitions to join the military alliance, are core factors fueling the Ukraine conflict.
According to Russia’s National Security Council Secretary and former Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, deploying NATO troops in Ukraine could provoke a direct confrontation between the US-led bloc and Russia, potentially igniting World War III.
The proposed troop deployment comes amid discussions among EU states regarding an $840 militarization strategy for the bloc in response to perceived threats from Russia. Moscow has frequently criticized the EU's steady supply of weapons to Ukraine, contending that Western European nations seem more focused on perpetuating the conflict instead of seeking a diplomatic resolution.
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
Defense officials from various European NATO countries have been deliberating the potential deployment of forces to Ukraine as part of a so-called “coalition of the willing.”
This initiative, spearheaded by France and the UK, was suggested as a way to offer security assurances to Kiev in the event of a ceasefire with Russia. However, Moscow has firmly opposed the notion of US-led military bloc troops being sent to Ukraine under any circumstances.
Reports indicate that the UK-French plan was significantly dialed back during meetings in the UK capital on Wednesday. The newspaper noted, “Sir Keir Starmer and President Macron of France have offered to deploy troops to Ukraine to keep the peace as part of a ‘coalition of the willing,’ but during talks in London sources told The Times there appeared to be a softening of the commitment.”
Nevertheless, a defense source mentioned that the UK is not entirely prepared to abandon these plans. Some European officials understand that Moscow would never accept the presence of NATO members' troops in Ukraine, as reported by The Times.
Russia has warned that it would regard such a troop presence as a NATO deployment, regardless of the stated purpose, and would treat it as a legitimate military target. Moscow has consistently asserted that NATO's eastward expansion, along with Kiev’s ambitions to join the military alliance, are core factors fueling the Ukraine conflict.
According to Russia’s National Security Council Secretary and former Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, deploying NATO troops in Ukraine could provoke a direct confrontation between the US-led bloc and Russia, potentially igniting World War III.
The proposed troop deployment comes amid discussions among EU states regarding an $840 militarization strategy for the bloc in response to perceived threats from Russia. Moscow has frequently criticized the EU's steady supply of weapons to Ukraine, contending that Western European nations seem more focused on perpetuating the conflict instead of seeking a diplomatic resolution.
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
