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French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday announced plans for a “reassurance force” that would be deployed to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire, although European leaders remained divided over its terms.
Speaking in Paris at the “coalition of the willing” summit, Macron acknowledged that the decision was “not unanimous,” but was nonetheless achievable — although exact details of the possible troop deployment remain lacking.
Russia has repeatedly said that it will not accept a ceasefire that includes the deployment of NATO troops to Ukraine, and has pushed for sanctions relief before more peace negotiations can continue.
The Paris summit comes after top US officials inadvertently leaked a Signal chat that included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth describing the continent’s reliance on America for defense as “pathetic,” prompting significant backlash.
SIGNALS
Leaders divided on ‘reassurance’ troops in Ukraine
At the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to create a “reassurance force,” indicating France and the UK’s seriousness over Ukrainian security guarantees regardless of US support. But not all EU leaders agree: Italy’s Giorgia Meloni — among Trump’s closest European allies — said such a force was “premature,” while the Italian foreign minister reiterated that any troop deployment must be under the umbrella of the United Nations — unlikely given Russia would need to consent, and has steadfastly opposed such a mission. The scope of the “reassurance force” has already been scaled back: Sources told the BBC that a smaller “tripwire force” might be deployed to deter Russia without triggering further escalation.
Strained ties with Washington put Europe in tight spot over sanctions negotiations
European leaders came to Paris feeling a “mix of hurt and anger” toward Washington as a result of Signal-gate, Politico wrote. Many still want to work with the US on Ukraine, even as Washington appeared to be “giving away” leverage over Russia, including lifting some sanctions — concessions that are not in Washington’s power to give, EU diplomats told Politico. However, if the EU rejects Moscow’s demands, there is a growing concern that “both Trump and Putin would seize the opportunity to blame the EU for Trump’s failed peace efforts,” a security expert said.
Europe summit overshadowed by US security leak
The Signal leak has reignited lingering European concerns over the Trump administration’s security approach. US-UK intelligence systems, in particular, are “so intertwined as to be practically one and the same,” The Atlantic wrote earlier this month, with much of their physical and digital infrastructure essentially conjoined. Since the leak, one prominent UK politician suggested the US was “playing Russian roulette with Western security,” especially after Washington briefly withheld intelligence sharing with Ukraine earlier this month. There are further concerns that the Trump administration will “politiciz[e] the intelligence community at the very highest level,” which US allies have long feared, The Atlantic wrote: Indeed, Washington recently suggested Canada could be kicked out of the “Five Eyes” intelligence alliance over trade tensions.