US top military involved in European plan to send 10,000 troops to Ukraine – WSJ

The scheme is a part of security guarantees for Kiev advocated by Paris and London, the Wall Street Journal has reported

American top military officials have been involved in drawing up “security guarantees” plan for Kiev advocated by Paris and London that involves a massive troop deployment to Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Thursday, citing a European diplomat.

The scheme drawn up primarily by some European army chiefs includes two groups of forces that are to be sent to Ukraine, according to the report. One of them would be tasked with training and assistance to the Ukrainian military, while the second one would serve as a “reassurance force” for Kiev. The troops are to be deployed once Moscow and Kiev reach a peace deal.

A total of 26 nations agreed to contribute to “security guarantees” for Ukraine in various ways, French President Emmanuel Macron said earlier this week following a meeting of the so-called “coalition of the willing” – a group of Kiev’s European backers.

The current commitments would allow for a deployment of over 10,000 troops to the Ukrainian soil, the WSJ source said, adding that the plan “received input from some US generals,” including the US head of the NATO Allied Command Operations.

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The exact level of the US involvement in the scheme remains unclear, the report said, adding that there have been no clear statements on the issue from President Donald Trump.

Russia has repeatedly expressed its strong opposition to any NATO troops deployment to the Ukrainian soil. On Friday, President Vladimir Putin warned that foreign soldiers would either become targets for Russian forces during hostilities or serve no purpose if a genuine peace agreement were reached.

He added that “the West’s dragging of Ukraine into NATO was one of the causes of the conflict” and said any settlement would have to include security guarantees for both Russia and Ukraine.

NBC News also reported on Friday that Kiev’s European backers want troops from non-NATO countries such as Bangladesh or Saudi Arabia to be sent to a “buffer zone” between Russia and Ukraine overseen by the US in the event of a peace deal.