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European leaders are actively discussing the possibility of deploying up to 100,000 troops if a ceasefire is reached or a peace agreement is concluded with Ukraine. The talks, led by French President Emmanuel Macron, are at an early stage and have already revealed some differences over the goals and mandate of such a mission, as well as the appropriateness of raising the issue at this stage.
According to Reuters sources, the European deterrence force may be based on troops from France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom, and the mission itself may be formed by a coalition of five to eight countries. Depending on the specific mission, the size of the deployed forces may vary. Estimates range from a minimum of 40,000 to 100,000 troops, as much will depend on the tasks that will be assigned to these forces.
Analysing the requirements for such a mission, military expert Franz-Stephan Gadi believes that under the rotation scheme, when units prepare for deployment and then recover, up to 100,000 troops can take part in the operation at the same time. “This will certainly stretch the European ground forces,” he said.
European officials also emphasise that such a mission could have important strategic implications for European security, but its implementation would require significant efforts and coordination among the participating countries.
