European disagreement over sending troops to Ukraine

Srichand Myneni

28th February 2025

Written by Srichand Myneni

European disagreement over sending troops to Ukraine

On Monday, European leaders met in Paris for a high-stakes summit with the aim of formulating a unified response to US President Donald Trump’s surprise peace talks with Russia. The summit, which included EU leaders, UK representatives, and officials from NATO, uncovered deep divisions on the issue of sending troops to Ukraine.

Hours after the UK offered to deploy troops, countries like Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain expressed their understandable reluctance. French President Emmanuel Macron proposed creating a "reassurance force" behind a potential ceasefire line, but the idea sparked strong opposition. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed the discussion as "highly inappropriate," given that the war is ongoing. Scholz, facing national elections soon, called the debate "premature" and "the wrong topic."

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also voiced scepticism, labelling troop deployments as the "most complex and least likely to be effective" option. In contrast, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer indicated a willingness to send British troops, but only if a lasting peace agreement is reached. He highlighted that any security guarantee would need to come from the US to deter further the Russians.

Macron, determined to find a solution, stated that the EU would continue consulting partners on ways to improve both Ukraine’s security and their own defence capabilities. However, concerns were growing that Trump may reduce US involvement in Ukraine’s defence after peace talks, thus forcing European nations to shoulder more financial and military responsibility.

While some countries, including the UK and Poland, pushed for continued US engagement, other European countries were more cautious. Spain, for instance, firmly opposed committing troops, emphasising the need for further clarity on the safety of their forces. Poland, despite increased defence spending, also refrained from offering troops.

At the summit, the need for increased defence spending was acknowledged, with the French advocating for joint European borrowing to reduce reliance on the US. However, countries such as Germany and the Netherlands opposed such measures.

As the war in Ukraine rages on, European leaders remain at odds over how best to support Ukraine’s defence, with each country grappling with political, financial, and military concerns.