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French President Emmanuel Macron is spearheading an ambitious initiative to station up to 100,000 European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine, contingent upon a potential ceasefire agreement orchestrated by incoming President Donald Trump.

A Reuters report indicates that during a recent encounter at the Notre Dame Cathedral’s reopening ceremony, Trump conveyed to both Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that American military personnel would not be involved in safeguarding Ukraine’s security following any prospective peace negotiations with Moscow.

In response, Macron has initiated discussions with European allies about committing military forces to the region, regardless of Ukraine’s NATO membership status.

A high-ranking European official informed Reuters about the ongoing military preparations, stating: “Even if there were a NATO security guarantee, where would the impetus on the ground come from? It would be European so our army chiefs are already preparing plans for European leaders to consider in the future.”

Franz-Stefan Gady, an International Institute for Strategic Studies analyst and former Austrian military planner, suggests that deploying 100,000 European troops to Ukraine would put considerable strain on European ground forces. However, he indicates this target could be achieved by redistributing forces currently stationed in regions like Bosnia and Kosovo.

Ukraine’s NATO membership prospects remain uncertain, as Russia considers it a non-negotiable issue, while Western nations including Germany, Hungary, and the United States express reservations about admitting a country with ongoing border disputes. Alternative security guarantees may prove crucial in bringing Ukraine to peace talks.

Following discussions with Macron, Zelensky shared on X: “We share a common vision: reliable guarantees are essential for a peace that can truly be achieved. We continued working on President Macron’s initiative regarding the presence of forces in Ukraine that could contribute to stabilizing the path to peace. Emmanuel informed about his communication with other partners aimed at ensuring all necessary steps are taken for peace. Thank you, France!”

However, support for the peacekeeping mission varies among European nations. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has dismissed the proposal following recent discussions with Macron. While German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has indicated potential involvement in peacekeeping efforts, he has avoided making specific commitments regarding German troop deployment to Ukraine.