Europe commits to leading ‘multinational’ defence force in Ukraine as part of US peace plan

The UK, France, Germany and eight other European countries have pledged to deploy a multinational force to protect Ukraine’s “peace and security” and deter future Russian attacks, according to a joint statement issued following talks between European, US, and Ukrainian delegations in Berlin on Monday. 

The statement commits the countries to take “legally binding” measures, including the use of armed force, to repel any future attack on Ukraine. It also proposes a US-led ceasefire monitoring mechanism and affirms Ukraine’s right to maintain a peacetime military of 800,000 troops. 

An earlier peace plan drafted by the US and Russia last month proposed capping Ukraine’s armed forces at 600,000 personnel, a sharp reduction from its current level of nearly 900,000 troops.

The proposal also commits the signatories to supporting Ukraine’s eventual accession to the European Union, and calls on Russia to “show willingness” to work towards peace by agreeing to a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Backed by the White House, the plan could spur a breakthrough in peace negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv, though significant differences still remain over the fate of Ukrainian territories currently occupied by Russia, the Guardian reported on Monday. 

The US is still pushing for Ukraine to give up the estimated 25% of its eastern Donetsk region still under its control, as well as the remaining territory it holds in the neighboring Luhansk region, a key demand put forward by Moscow.

However, the deal would give Ukraine “article five-like” security guarantees, akin to the collective defence commitments enjoyed by NATO allies, the Guardian reported, citing two US officials briefed on the negotiations. .

“We had numerous conversations with President Putin of Russia, and I think we’re closer now than we have been ever, and we’ll see what we can do,” Trump said on Monday following the talks.