France, UK push for military force to deter future Russian attacks

• European leaders aim to establish a “reassurance force” in Ukraine. The force aims to deter future Russian aggression and stabilize Ukraine post-conflict.
• Not all European nations back the idea, with Italy and the Czech Republic expressing skepticism about deploying troops without U.S. guarantees.
• French and British military officials will assess Ukraine’s defense needs, with the goal of speeding up weapons deliveries and finalizing the structure of Ukraine’s future military.

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France and the UK are considering a multinational “reassurance force” to support Ukraine if a ceasefire with Russia is reached. The idea, led by France and the United Kingdom, would aim to deter future Russian aggression and stabilize Ukraine post-conflict.

While the proposal is still in the early stages, it reflects a growing urgency among European allies to plan for long-term security without depending entirely on the United States.

How much support does the plan have across Europe?

Not all European leaders and their nations back the idea. France and the U.K. pledged to move forward regardless of unanimous support. Some countries, including Italy and the Czech Republic, expressed skepticism, citing concerns about deploying troops without U.S. guarantees or a formal international mandate.

Others are open to contributing air or maritime assets rather than ground forces.

What role would Ukraine’s military play?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said strengthening the Ukrainian military remains essential to the country’s future security.

European officials have discussed helping Ukraine build a long-term force of up to 1 million personnel. Leaders emphasized that future guarantees should reinforce Ukraine’s own defense capabilities, not replace them.

How is the US responding?

The U.S. did not attend the summit, and the Trump administration has not publicly endorsed the reassurance force. France’s Emmanuel Macron said he plans to brief President Donald Trump on the discussions.

So far, the administration has pushed European allies to assume a greater share of NATO’s collective defense burden, but has not committed to backing this new initiative.

What happens next?

French and British military officials plan to assess Ukraine’s specific defense needs. Macron said the goal is to speed up weapons deliveries and finalize the structure of both Ukraine’s future military and any external support force.

However, leaders acknowledged that questions remain, including where such forces might operate and how they would respond in a crisis. Despite divisions, there was consensus not to lift sanctions on Russia unless a durable peace is in place.