In a recent summit held in Paris, European leaders showcased a significant divide regarding the potential deployment of troops to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping initiative.
According to the Financial Times, nations such as Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain voted against sending any military personnel to the conflict zone. In contrast, France proposed the establishment of a “reassurance force,” which would be stationed behind a future ceasefire line.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed skepticism about the feasibility of deploying European troops, labeling the ongoing discussions as “an incomprehensible debate at the wrong time and about the wrong topic.” He conveyed his irritation over the premature nature of the conversation, reflecting a broader sentiment among several leaders.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni echoed Scholz’s concerns, stating that sending European troops to Ukraine represented “the most complex and least likely to be effective” option available. Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares also voiced doubts, asserting that “nobody is currently considering sending troops to Ukraine.”
Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer indicated that Britain would only contemplate sending its Armed Forces if there were a lasting peace agreement in place, coupled with security guarantees from the United States.
Even Poland, which has ramped up defense spending since the onset of the Ukraine conflict and maintained a hawkish stance towards Russian aggression, is hesitant to commit troops. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that Warsaw is not prepared to send soldiers into the fray.
The Baltic States, along with the Czech Republic, Romania, and Slovakia, expressed their dissatisfaction after not being invited to a high-profile summit. The absence of these nations from the gathering has sparked discontent among their leaders, who have voiced their displeasure over the exclusion.
In stark contrast, Hungary welcomed its omission from the meeting. The Hungarian Foreign Minister criticized the assembly, labeling it as “a bunch of Anti-Trump warmongers.” This statement underscores Hungary’s distancing from the prevailing sentiments at the summit and highlights the growing divide among European nations regarding foreign policy and military engagement.
Despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s repeated appeals for “100,000 soldiers as peacekeeping forces,” European leaders appear reluctant to act swiftly. The Kremlin has responded to these discussions by emphasizing that no foreign military presence in Ukraine can be considered until after the conflict concludes.
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