European leaders plan multinational force for Ukraine peace deal

European leaders are attempting to finalize plans to support Kyiv with a multinational military force in the event a peace agreement is signed between Ukraine and Russia.

As intense diplomatic efforts for an agreement continue, Ukraine’s allies gathered on Tuesday for a virtual meeting of the “coalition of the willing” and appear to have secured at least the support of the US.

The meeting was organized to demonstrate solidarity as Kyiv advances sensitive peace talks with the US, and to fulfill the 33-member coalition’s pledge to translate words into action.

On Tuesday night, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the establishment of a new joint task force led by France and the United Kingdom, with the participation of the US and Türkiye.

The objective of this task force is to define the details of the military support Europe will provide under the framework of a peace agreement.

Macron pledged, “In the coming days, we will be able to finalize each country’s contributions very clearly and present the final security guarantees.”

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer told participants in the call, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, that a multinational force would play a “vital role” in ensuring the country’s security.

Speaking to POLITICO, an Elysée official argued that the new task force would bring “new coherence” to transatlantic discussions regarding security guarantees, while a British official contended that Rubio’s participation in the meeting was a positive sign of support from the US, which remains one of the most controversial elements of any plan.

A second British official stated that the preparations by British military planners were “very advanced.”

The coalition, a loose alliance formed by countries including France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, and Türkiye, was established earlier this year due to Europe’s deep concerns regarding continued American support for Ukraine.

Its members have pledged varying degrees of support. France and the UK have committed to deploying national troops on the ground to oversee the agreement and “deter further Russian aggression.”

In addition to creating a “security force” providing air and naval support to Ukraine, the coalition also planned to focus on restructuring the country’s armed forces.

Starmer’s spokesperson told reporters on Tuesday that London remains “ready to send troops” to ensure peace.

Macron emphasized that the force would be “far from the front,” explaining that it would maintain a presence in “backup positions in Kyiv or Odesa.”

The French leader stated, “It will be an air power force deployed not in Ukraine, but probably in neighboring countries… It will secure the airspace by managing operations linked with the Ukrainian air force.”

Considering cautious domestic public opinion, Macron added that there was no need to cause panic among the French populace, noting that while “there are many people who want to scare France and say they will send soldiers immediately,” he insisted that “this is not true.”

Germany is behaving somewhat more cautiously regarding its participation. Foreign Policy Spokesperson Johann Wadephul pointed to the existing German brigade in Lithuania this week, stating, “Compared to almost all other members of NATO, we are more involved in the whole region,” and added that this was “sufficient.”

Calvin Bailey, a Labour Party MP serving on the UK House of Commons Defence Committee, stated that the group plays a “vital role,” but added that “for this process to work, the capabilities and plans we offer must be supported by appropriate resources and be credible.”

The Conservative Party also questioned whether the government had truly thought through its commitments.

The second British government official quoted above emphasized that this criticism was misplaced, arguing that clear operational expectations could only be determined after a ceasefire agreement was actually signed.

On the other hand, former British Defence Attaché to Russia John Foreman downplayed the overall importance of Europe’s military contribution, arguing that the coalition’s primary benefit was serving as “a political group that can act as a bridge between NATO, the EU, and the rest of the world.”

In his view, the coalition “will never be able to provide credible security guarantees; only the US and perhaps some key allies can do this, because if peace breaks down, no one wants to fight the Russians.”

According to Anadolu Agency (AA), President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who attended the meeting virtually, stated that Türkiye “will continue its diplomatic efforts to facilitate direct contacts between the parties to ensure a just and lasting peace as soon as possible.”

Erdoğan indicated that direct negotiations between the parties could be held in Istanbul and that Türkiye is in contact with both the Ukrainian and Russian sides regarding this matter.