Europeans still unable to agree on sending peacekeepers and military aid to Ukraine – Le Monde

European nations remain unable to agree on the deployment of peacekeepers and military assistance to Ukraine. While political leaders in France and the UK are in favor of such steps, their respective military leaderships are opposed.

This was reported by Le Monde, citing sources.

There are also disagreements regarding the format of the mission. The French lean more toward a ground deployment. They already have troops stationed in Romania, and their established logistical chain would make such a mission more feasible.

In contrast, the British prefer to limit involvement to air and naval forces. This has led to the idea of negotiating the creation of a no-fly zone.

These differences are further complicated by concerns about the financial impact of such measures. According to French estimates, deploying ground forces could require investments of €2–3 billion. However, for many allies, the possibility of financing such “security guarantees” for Ukraine is currently on hold due to the looming threat of a U.S. military withdrawal from Europe.

European nations also remain divided on how to arm Ukraine in the postwar period. This issue is unlikely to be resolved until the summer or fall, when national and EU budgets are negotiated. There are also ongoing challenges related to scaling up military production within the EU.

Meanwhile, today in Paris, Head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office Andriy Yermak, Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov are set to meet with representatives of the so-called “coalition of the willing.”