Report: UK, France Discuss Troop Deployments to Ukraine as Part of Cease-fire Deal
Facts
- London and Paris have held discussions about the possibility of British and French troops being deployed to Ukraine as part of a post-war security arrangement, according to a senior NATO official who spoke to Radio Liberty.[1][2]
- According to the official, the talks were part of an effort to prepare for various scenarios — including the possibility that US Pres.-elect Donald Trump may seek greater European involvement in a post-war truce once he enters office and aims to strike a Russia-Ukraine cease-fire deal.[3]
- The talks took place directly between the British and French, and not within the NATO structure, the official said.[3]
- Speaking to journalists at a NATO foreign ministers' meeting following the report on Tuesday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the deployment of international troops to Ukraine, including German ones, as part of a post-war security arrangement was conceivable.[4]
- Meanwhile, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže told Reuters that NATO countries are waiting for Trump to take office before making any decision on Ukraine's invitation to the military alliance. In recent days, Ukrainian officials have increasingly lobbied for a NATO invitation.[5][6]
- Elsewhere, BBC journalists reported that, despite a deteriorating battlefield situation, the soldiers were given orders to hold onto the maximum amount of Russian territory possible ahead of Trump's inauguration so that it could be exchanged during negotiations. This was denied by a high-ranking Ukrainian official.[7][8]
Sources: [1]Daily Mail, [2]Радіо Свобода, [3]The Kyiv Independent (a), [4]The Kyiv Independent (b), [5]Reuters (a), [6]Reuters (b), [7]BBC News and [8]Kyiv Post.
Narratives
- Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Foreign Affairs. Should Trump make good on his promise of a Russia-Ukraine cease-fire, Ukraine will have to receive security guarantees that deter Russia from invading again. Under such a scenario, it's imperative that international troops be deployed to Ukraine as part of that effort.
- Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Lemonde. The possibility of an international peace-keeping force in Ukraine is only being discussed because Western nations are understandably worried of the consequences of Ukraine joining NATO. Unable to offer Ukraine that unrealistic goal, Western countries are trying to come up with another plan that would keep them happy.