A group of European countries is considering sending a military contingent to Ukraine after the war ends to ensure security and stability in the region.
The UK and France are leading the way, although other European states are still in the early stages of discussing participation in the mission.
This was reported by the Associated Press.
The new concerns among European countries are linked to a shift in security priorities in the United States. European officials say that if the United States can focus on other issues or even make a deal with Putin, Europeans should be prepared for that scenario to prevent Russian influence from growing in the region.
Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and Poland are currently remaining cautious on this issue, as some countries have their own constitutional restrictions or require parliamentary approval to participate in international military missions. Germany, in particular, will have the opportunity to change its position after the upcoming elections on February 23.
Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pävklur said that the current plan is at a “very early stage,” and the implementation of this contingent will depend on the conditions of a peaceful settlement and changes on the front line. If the conflict is frozen and the forces of both sides are reduced, Europe will not have a problem deploying its troops in Ukraine. However, if the war continues in active stages, the implementation of such a plan will become much more difficult.
Experts emphasize that the European mission should be a powerful military force, not peacekeepers in the style of the UN "blue helmets". This is necessary to demonstrate to Russia that attempts to defuse the situation will be met with strong resistance. Former commander of the US army in Europe Ben Hodges emphasized that the future mission should be powerful enough to ensure peace and stability in the long term.
