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European military leaders discuss peacekeeping force in Ukraine
2025-03-12 09:22:57 / BOTA
Military chiefs from 30 European and NATO countries are meeting in Paris to discuss a plan for a possible peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, following a ceasefire that could be negotiated with Russia.
The closed-door meeting, taking place from March 11 to 13, comes as US officials met in Saudi Arabia, aiming to end Russia's three-year war against Ukraine.
After the meeting, the two delegations issued a joint statement announcing that Ukraine is ready to accept the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. The US side has said that it is now up to Russia to accept this proposal.
The Paris meeting brings together the chiefs of staff of all 30 European NATO members, as well as Ukrainian officials. But one important participant is missing: the United States.
European officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Radio Free Europe (RFE/RL) that US officials were not invited. They said Europe needs to show that it can take responsibility for the security of the continent and Ukraine once the war is over.
French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu suggested that the meeting in Paris would focus on how Europe could defend NATO's eastern flank "in the event that the contributions of some countries - or one country - were to be reduced in the future."
His comments, made on March 11 at the start of the meeting, were a reference to the stance of US President Donald Trump, who has taken a friendlier approach towards Moscow and suggested that Europe, which for decades has been under the US security umbrella, should defend itself.
France and Britain are working to create a "coalition of the willing" of European countries that would guarantee peace in Ukraine after a deal with Russia.
The meeting of military chiefs in Paris aims to look at what other allies could contribute to a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine, in terms of troops on the ground and military equipment.
French President Emmanuel Macron told European leaders during a special summit in Brussels on March 6 that between 500,000 and 800,000 soldiers would be needed to maintain a possible ceasefire in Ukraine, several European officials told REL.
The bulk of this force would consist of Ukrainian soldiers, but according to experts, they would need to be supported by troops from European NATO states.
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