Defence ministers meet in Brussels to discuss 'reassurance force' for Ukraine
The countries that make up the "coalition of the willing" met at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Thursday. The coalition, led by France and the UK, is seeking to increase support for Ukraine while maintaining pressure on Russia.
Defence ministers from some 30 European countries met for the first time at NATO headquarters on Thursday afternoon. They are trying to set up a "reassurance force" for Ukraine to keep Russia at bay in the event of a ceasefire.
Several EU member states want to take part. Others do not, or want more details about the force before committing. "I don't exclude the possibility that Sweden is going to participate, but there's a number of questions that we need to get clarified," Swedish Defence minister Pal Jonson said ahead of the meeting.
However, it remains unclear what the force would look like and what kind of mandate it would have: deterrence, observation or peacekeeping. "That also depends on whether there is peace or not. So far we don't have peace to keep," said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
A safety net from the US is crucial for the force to deter Russia, according to British prime minister Keir Starmer, but the Trump administration is refusing to commit. The US is not formally part of the coalition, and Defence minister Pete Hegseth did not attend Thursday's meeting.
"That also depends on whether there is peace or not. So far we don't have peace to keep"
"It is also in the interest of the United States that there is stability and peace in Europe," Kallas said before the meeting. "What happens in Ukraine and how this war ends will also have an impact on other security theatres."
On Friday, the UK and Germany will chair the meeting of the Contact Group to Coordinate Military Assistance to Ukraine, also at NATO headquarters. Around 50 countries are involved, including Belgium.
© PHOTO NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP
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