The United States is refusing to provide air defence equipment to protect the peacekeeping forces that the UK and France plan to deploy in Ukraine after the end of hostilities. Bloomberg reports, citing sources familiar with the negotiations.
In talks with Washington, European allies have concluded that President Donald Trump will not provide the expected guarantees for the so-called “coalition of the willing” to be led by Europe.
The decision deepens divisions among the allies over Ukraine’s long-term security and how to contain Russia.
What Europeans are planning:
- The United Kingdom and France have finalised the design of their peacekeeping deployments to Ukraine, but have frozen implementation until ceasefire talks resume.
- The scenario envisages training of the Ukrainian military, the presence of European forces, aircraft on NATO’s eastern flank and patrols in the Black Sea as a deterrent.
What is expected from the US:
- Continued reconnaissance and surveillance of the Ukrainian-Russian border.
- Although there are no official guarantees of intervention in the event of an attack on the British or French military, some officials believe that Trump could act in the event of a direct attack, although it is unlikely that such commitments would be made in writing.
