Putin can exploit a peace agreement for new attacks.
It fears Ukraine.
Now the "fairly detailed plan" between the EU and the US to prevent that from happening is being revealed.
While Putin is in China for meetings with Xi Jinping and other leaders in the"alternative alliance" SCO, plans are being drawn up in Europe for how Ukraine can be protected after a possible peace agreement.
Thousands of EU soldiers to Ukraine
And the plans, drawn up in collaboration with the White House, include tens of thousands of soldiers from EU countries to be sent to Ukraine, the Financial Times writes.
These soldiers will be assisted by American support, including intelligence and surveillance, the newspaper reports.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has demanded concrete security guarantees from the West in order to sit down at the negotiating table with Putin.
“Security guarantees are of the utmost importance and absolutely crucial. We have an action plan and an agreement in the White House and the work is progressing very well,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the FT.
Decided in meeting with Trump
The agreement was worked out during the meeting between Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and a number of EU leaders a couple of weeks ago.
On Thursday, several EU leaders will meet in Paris to discuss how the various countries stand on sending soldiers to Ukraine after a peace agreement has been hammered out, diplomatic sources told the FT.
French President Emmanuel Macron is hosting the meeting, which is also expected to be attended by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Ursula von der Leyen.
“Quite a detailed plan”
Ursula von der Leyen tells the FT that they are working to ensure that troops from several countries participate with support from the Pentagon.
She states that last week they were already working on"a fairly detailed plan" for how Ukraine will be protected against new attacks from Putin once a peace agreement comes into force.
– Of course, political decisions are required in each country, since the deployment of soldiers is among the most important independent decisions a country can make. But the feeling of urgency is very great and things are moving forward. It is really taking shape, says von der Leyen.
Praises Trump for turnaround
The President of the European Commission is now praising Donald Trump for appearing to have turned his back on Putin.
– Putin has not changed. He is a predator. Trump wants peace and Putin will not come to the negotiating table. He has bad experiences with Putin, more and more Putin does not do what he says he will do, she says.
The EU will also support Ukraine with funding for salaries and equipment for its army and continue to fund training for Ukrainian soldiers after a peace agreement.
