US envoy urges Europe to send troops for Ukraine security guarantees
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US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said European countries should be prepared to deploy troops in Ukraine as part of long-term security guarantees, even in non-combat roles.
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US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker speaks during a panel discussion at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Dayton, Ohio, Friday, May 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker has said that European countries should be ready to send personnel to Ukraine as part of the long-term security guarantees being drawn up for Kiev.
"I think there is a necessity to have European troops there, as you know, whether they're peacekeepers, whether they're trainers, whatever, whatever role," Whitaker told Fox Business on Monday.
His remarks build on earlier comments from US President Donald Trump, who on August 19 suggested Washington could provide air support as part of such guarantees but made clear he opposed putting American soldiers on the ground. On September 2, Whitaker also declined to say whether the United States might consider turning to private military contractors instead.
European security guarantees
The guarantees in question are part of a framework first endorsed by the G7 at the NATO summit in Vilnius in July 2023, intended as an interim step until Ukraine can secure full NATO membership. Under the arrangement, Western partners pledge long-term military aid, training, intelligence support, and commitments to rebuild Ukraine’s defense sector. Kiev has since signed a string of bilateral pacts with major allies, including the UK, France, Germany, and Italy, most lasting ten years or more.
While Washington has sought to limit its direct footprint, European governments have been debating what their contribution should look like. French President Emmanuel Macron has said 26 countries back a system of post-war “reassurance” guarantees that could eventually include troops on Ukrainian soil in roles such as peacekeeping, base protection, or training.
Germany and Italy have signaled support for the framework, though they note that the exact form of deployment would depend on conditions and US coordination. Eastern European and Black Sea states, such as Bulgaria, have floated options like naval cooperation, while the EU has already trained tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers outside the country under its military assistance mission.
Read more: Trump, Europe discuss deploying private army to Ukraine: Telegraph
Russia has condemned the idea of European deployments, warning that the expansion of NATO’s presence and infrastructure into Ukraine was among the drivers of the conflict. Moscow insists that any Western troop presence on Ukrainian soil would mark a dangerous escalation.
