Europe considers NATO role in Ukraine ‘peacekeeping force’

According to plans drawn up by a coalition of Western countries, NATO could play a key role in assisting a proposed European military mission to guarantee a peace agreement in Ukraine.

The proposal, discussed in talks led by France and the United Kingdom, envisions using NATO’s command and control structures to deploy an “assurance force” in Ukraine, according to officials familiar with the plans who spoke to the Financial Times (FT).

According to the proposal, this force would also benefit from the alliance’s joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. Officials stated that the proposal is one of many options being discussed and could be modified before a final agreement.

NATO’s involvement is also seen by supporters of the “assurance force” as a way to indirectly involve the US in the effort and secure Washington’s tacit support.

US President Donald Trump has refused to be directly involved in any European-led mission, but the US’s military capabilities in Europe are an integral part of all NATO operations.

One of the officials said, “If we are going to deploy assets [to Ukraine] from dozens of countries, NATO is really the only [command and control] option we have available.”

The purpose of this force is to provide assurance of Europe’s commitment to Ukraine’s security if a ceasefire with Russia is implemented and to deter Moscow from attacking again.

The “coalition” talks, led by Paris and London with the participation of leaders and ministers from about 30 countries, have repeatedly emphasized that some form of “emergency support” from the US is critical for any deployment. The US is not a member of the coalition.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also attended the leaders’ meetings and sent senior NATO officials to the group’s technical-level meetings. NATO’s headquarters in Brussels will also host the next meeting of the coalition defense ministers next week.

Another official said, “Politicians and diplomats don’t really know what it means to carry something like this out. You need soldiers from the beginning.”

NATO’s command and control structures and other assets can be used for non-NATO missions, including those carried out by the EU. However, this requires unanimous approval from the alliance members.

Some members of the coalition are hesitant to involve the military alliance in any final proposal, as Trump has stated that he does not want to be involved in any way in Ukraine after accepting a ceasefire.

Some countries, including Italy, have instead called for the UN to play a coordinating role in peacekeeping operations. Other countries, wary of Russian and Chinese vetoes in the UN Security Council, oppose this.