Britain and France are in talks to send troops to Ukraine to deter Vladimir Putin, it has emerged.
London and Paris want to create a “core of allies in Europe” as fears intensify that President-elect Donald Trump could withdraw military support for Ukraine.
British and French troops could be among European allies deployed to deter the Kremlin from attacking Ukraine again.
And they could train Ukrainian forces, similar to how they did before Moscow ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
A British military source told French newspaper Le Monde: “Discussions are underway between the UK and France regarding defence cooperation, particularly with the aim of creating a core of allies in Europe, focused on Ukraine and broader European security,”
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna told the Financial Times last week: “If we are talking about real security guarantees, it means that there will be a just peace.
“Then we are talking about Nato membership. But without the US, it is impossible. And then we are talking about any form [of guarantee] in the meaning of boots on the ground.”
President-elect Donald Trump is alleged to have told his team European armies should patrol an 800-mile stretch of eastern Ukraine to end the war.
Many across the continent fear Mr Trump’s re-election will lead to a halt in American military aid.
In exchange, the US would give Ukrainian troops weapons to deter Russia from restarting the war.
A member of Mr Trump’s team told the Wall Street Journal: “We can do training and other support but the barrel of the gun is going to be European. We are not sending American men and women to uphold peace in Ukraine.
“And we are not paying for it. Get the Poles, Germans, British and French to do it.”
Sources in the US said Trump is considering calling for the current frontline to be frozen and Ukraine agree not to try join NATO for 20 years.
