सिंहदरबार संवाददाता
Kathmandu. Britain and France are pushing ahead with efforts to create a “reassurance force” of fewer than 30,000 European troops to defend Ukraine after any ceasefire deal with Russia, British media reported on Thursday. The idea comes amid fears among European powers that US President Donald Trump could end the three-year war on terms favourable to Moscow without providing security guarantees to Kiev.
The British-French proposal is likely to focus on air and maritime security, with “minimal” forces on the ground and none near the eastern front, according to unidentified Western officials, the Guardian reported. The Times said so-called US support in the form of “air cover” would be essential to the plan to prevent Russia from violating any agreement. “We have a significant advantage over Russia, and that is in the airspace and in our ability to respond to clear violations of the ceasefire,” the Financial Times quoted a Western official as saying.
It is unclear whether the ideas will satisfy Kiev or be acceptable to Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has already called for a Western counter-offensive force of more than 100,000 personnel to help secure a lasting peace. According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Russia said in talks with the United States on Tuesday that it opposed any NATO member sending troops to Ukraine as part of the ceasefire.
France and Britain are two of the key players in the Western military alliance. Trump has sent shockwaves across Europe by saying he is ready to resume diplomacy with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war on European countries and Kiev leaders.
The new US administration has shown sympathy for some of Moscow’s demands, including the return of territory seized from Ukraine since 2014 and Russia’s insistence that Ukraine not join NATO. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are both scheduled to visit the White House next week to meet with Trump.
प्रतिक्रिया दिनुहोस्