Officials say the proposal would involve less than 30,000 troops and be concentrated on air and maritime defence

Summary

Britain and France are leading efforts to form a European “reassurance force” of under 30,000 troops to safeguard Ukraine’s air and maritime security postwar.

The force would help reopen Ukraine’s airspace and secure Black Sea trade but would not be deployed near the frontline.

A U.S. security “backstop” is considered essential, though Washington has ruled out sending its own troops. Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron will lobby Donald Trump for support.

Russia opposes any NATO presence in Ukraine, calling it unacceptable. The plan remains in its conceptual stage.