EU Leaders to Discuss Security Guarantees for Ukraine, Including Potential Troop Deployment

During an extraordinary European Council meeting on March 6 in Brussels, EU leaders will begin drafting a framework for security guarantees for Ukraine, which may include the deployment of European troops after a potential end to hostilities, European Pravda reports, citing an anonymous EU official familiar with the summit agenda preparations.

According to the official, this will be the first in-depth joint discussion among EU member states on stationing a military presence in Ukraine, either after the war ends or in the event of a ceasefire.

“This European Council session will mark the start of substantive work on EU security guarantees for Ukraine, including planning for potential military missions on Ukrainian soil,” the official said.

So far, no formal debate on this issue has taken place, though some EU states, including France, have publicly expressed support or opposition to sending their personnel as part of security commitments.

“It is possible that more countries will back the initiative during the summit,” the official added.

However, he emphasized that no concrete decision on deploying EU troops in Ukraine can be made until there is clarity on the format of a future peace settlement.

“It is too early to talk about specific decisions. There is no ceasefire, no signed peace agreement. The political landscape is constantly evolving,” the official stated.

He also reiterated that the EU’s primary security guarantee for Ukraine is strengthening its armed forces to ensure the country can defend itself against future aggression.

It was previously reported that the European Union is preparing for the possibility that a pro-Russian faction within the bloc could derail critical decisions at this week's summit, according to a Politico report on March 5.