US backs 'coalition of the willing' for post-truce Ukraine
The USA, in unofficial talks, has declared its readiness to support a coalition of willing European forces that could be deployed in Ukraine after a ceasefire. This marks a breakthrough after months of efforts by the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer.
What do you need to know?
- The USA has declared support for the "coalition of the willing", offering security guarantees for European forces that may be deployed in Ukraine after a ceasefire is reached.
- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been persuading Donald Trump for two months for such guarantees, marking a significant breakthrough in the talks.
- Britain is considering withdrawing from plans to send thousands of troops to Ukraine, focusing instead on rebuilding and rearming the Ukrainian army.
In informal discussions, the United States has indicated its willingness to provide security guarantees to a so-called "coalition of the willing" — a group of European forces that might be deployed in Ukraine after a ceasefire — as reported by the British newspaper The Telegraph on Friday evening.
"Coalition of the willing": What about guarantees from the USA?
US representatives have also declared openness to support European soldiers with intelligence and logistics aid, enabling them to uphold the peace agreement by land, air, and sea.
According to the "Telegraph", this is a significant development as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been working for two months to persuade Donald Trump to provide such guarantees. However, it is not clear whether the United States would opt for direct intervention if Russian forces attacked Western soldiers despite the agreed ceasefire.
On Saturday, Starmer, Trump, and French President Emmanuel Macron are scheduled to attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome. It is possible that informal talks on the situation in Ukraine could take place during this meeting.
In public statements, Trump has repeatedly rejected calls for direct security guarantees, arguing that the mere presence of Americans in Ukraine – due to access to minerals – would deter Russia from aggression.
Is the UK not sending troops to Ukraine after all?
Meanwhile, as reported by the "Times," the UK may abandon plans to send thousands of ground troops to Ukraine, considering it too risky due to the potential escalation of the conflict. France may also consider a similar move.
Instead of direct military involvement, London is expected to focus on supporting the reconstruction and rearming of the Ukrainian army and providing air and sea protection assistance. The "Times" noted that decisions on this matter have not yet been made, and the British Ministry of Defence still officially maintains the plan to deploy troops.
The "coalition of the willing" was initiated by the British Prime Minister to create a comprehensive support system for Ukraine – both in terms of access to weapons and efforts to end the war. The coalition includes 33 countries, primarily European ones, as well as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Turkey.
