Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas indicated that European nations hold diverging views on the possibility of deploying a “peacekeeping” force to aid Kiev.
Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, acknowledged the lack of consensus within the “coalition of the willing” regarding the potential deployment of a joint military force to Ukraine.
Earlier in the previous month, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed their willingness to spearhead a coalition of European countries to support Kiev with both ground troops and aircraft, contingent on a ceasefire agreement between Ukraine and Russia. This proposal emerged following the commencement of bilateral peace talks between Moscow and Washington, notably excluding both the EU and the UK.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, Kallas stated that “different member states have different opinions and the discussions are still ongoing,” according to The Telegraph.
When questioned about whether the group’s meeting in Brussels on Thursday had brought more clarity to the coalition’s plans, Kallas gave a negative answer.
In contrast to Kallas’s remarks, UK Defence Secretary John Healey told the same gathering that “our planning is real and substantial. Our plans are well developed.”
AFP, citing unnamed European officials, reported later that day that only six nations, including the UK, France, and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, had so far pledged to contribute troops. The identity of the sixth nation was not disclosed.
Other prospective members of the coalition have voiced concerns about such a deployment and have not yet committed to participation.
Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans emphasized the necessity of US involvement, a condition that Washington has already dismissed.
“What is the mandate? What would we do in the different scenarios, for example, if there would be any escalation regarding Russia?” he questioned.
“It’s helpful if there’s a clarity of what that mission would entail, and what do we do,” Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson echoed.
Late the previous month, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni ruled out the possibility of Rome contributing troops to any force deployed in Ukraine.
Moscow has consistently cautioned the West against deploying ground forces to Ukraine under any circumstances, particularly objecting to the presence of troops from NATO countries within the country. Last month, Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president and deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council, warned that such a development would signify a war between the bloc and Russia.