Europe is considering various options regarding the contingent in Ukraine, including "somewhere along the Dnipro River" - AP
Kyiv • UNN
European military are planning options for deploying a contingent to Ukraine, including positioning along the Dnipro River. The strength of the forces could range from 10,000 to 30,000 troops.
European military officials are considering various options for deploying a contingent in Ukraine, including "somewhere along the Dnipro River," Associated Press reports, according to a source, writes UNN.
Details
Possible options being considered by European military leaders and planners include a series of scenarios they are preparing for consideration by government leaders and, ultimately, for the green light, the publication writes.
A possible option being promoted by France could be the deployment of significant forces by coalition members in central Ukraine, somewhere along the Dnipro River, away from the front line
The official said other possible options under consideration are deploying support forces even further from the front, in far western Ukraine or in a neighboring country.
British officials said the forces could consist of 10,000-30,000 troops - which would be a significant effort for countries that have downsized their armies since the Cold War, but are now rearming.
Addition
Both France and the United Kingdom have stated that they are ready to send troops to Ukraine as part of a package of security guarantees aimed at ensuring any peaceful settlement, provided that the United States provides support, the so-called "backstop" and supports the initiative.
Today, March 27, the summit of the "coalition of the willing" started in Paris, where leaders will discuss the prospect of deploying guarantee forces in Ukraine as part of a future peace settlement with the support of the United States.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously noted that Ukraine expects more specifics from the "coalition of the willing" summit in Paris regarding which countries are ready to join the security guarantees for our state. In particular, it concerns sending a peacekeeping contingent.
French President Emmanuel Macron plans to use the leaders' meeting to discuss what he called a "force of reassurance" of European soldiers who could be stationed at strategic points throughout Ukraine to deter Russia from re-attacking after peace is achieved, adding that it could respond to any aggression.