Western and Ukrainian officials say discussions on security guarantees for Ukraine are ongoing, but no concrete plan has been finalized.
“Diplomats and military officials are in talks, but we don’t have real proposals yet,” a senior Ukrainian official said. “We’ve made progress, but there’s still no firm approach.”
With Donald Trump opposing U.S. security guarantees, France and the UK are considering a plan to assemble a force capable of deterring further Russian aggression. A French military official said the force could include heavy weapons and rapid-response supplies for Ukraine’s defense. Another Western official in Kyiv suggested direct and immediate strikes on Russian assets in case of a violation.
Last month, some Western officials described a potential European-led “pacification force” of fewer than 30,000 troops, though numbers remain under discussion. One version of the plan would position troops at key infrastructure sites, such as nuclear power plants, while monitoring front lines remotely with drones and other technology.
Air forces, including U.S. units based in Poland or Romania, could be on standby to deter violations and reopen Ukrainian airspace to commercial flights, sources said. Allied naval forces might also help clear mines in the Black Sea and patrol international waters.
The goal is to combine European military capabilities to provide credible security guarantees and secure some level of U.S. backing, a French official said.
Some Western officials caution that the security plan would be phased in, with additional countries potentially joining later. Ukrainian officials say they are optimistic about a "coalition of the willing," given limited alternatives outside NATO.
“I believe this is very possible,” a senior Ukrainian official said. “Trump likes the idea, it benefits us, and if Europe wants to be a real player, it must act. If they miss this chance, we’ll be in a very difficult position.”