“It is still unclear” what President Donald Trump thinks of the plan, a source told the paper
Britain and France are likely to drop their plan to deploy troops to Ukraine after a potential ceasefire unless they have US backing, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday, citing sources. Russia has warned that any Western forces in Ukraine would be treated as “legitimate targets.”
Three FT sources claimed that the leaders of Italy, Germany, France, Canada, and the UK, as well as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, are set to meet US President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky at the World Economic Forum in Davos next week.
According to the paper, talks will revolve around security guarantees that the US could potentially provide in case of a Russia-Ukraine truce. However, Western European capitals are said to be “nervous” about how committed Trump is to supporting Ukraine.
“Without the US, none of this happens,” one FT source said, referring in particular to pledges from Britain and France to deploy troops. “It is still unclear what Trump really feels.”
Britain and France last week signed a ‘Declaration of Intent’ with Ukraine that sets out plans for a troop deployment on Ukrainian soil after a peace deal. The roadmap envisions the deployment of several thousand troops far from the front line and the creation of ‘military hubs’.
US envoy Steve Witkoff said Trump “strongly stands behind” security protocols for Ukraine but did not provide specifics on what Washington would do to enforce them. The US president also earlier portrayed support for Kiev as a largely European responsibility, although he did not rule out some degree of assistance.
Russia has rejected the idea of any Western troop deployment in Ukraine, warning that foreign units would be treated as “legitimate targets” and that plans by Kiev’s backers would amount to outside intervention.
