Kiev's closest allies mull post-war mission amid US reluctance

Brussels [Belgium], April 11: Defence ministers from the "coalition of the willing" nations, who are some of Kiev's closest allies, met at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Thursday to discuss how to best support Ukraine after a potential ceasefire.
The group, led by France and Britain, aims to advance work on support plans for Ukraine, which has been defending itself against Russia for over three years.
The main issue under discussion was how to provide Kiev with the highest level of security if it was to agree to a ceasefire with Russia, including the possibility of a Western military mission in Ukraine.
"Our reassurance force for Ukraine would be a committed and credible security arrangement to ensure that any negotiated peace does bring what President Trump has pledged, a lasting peace for Ukraine," UK Defence Secretary John Healey, addressing fellow ministers.
The mission's objectives would be to secure safe skies and seas, support peace on the land and "support the Ukrainian armed forces to become their own strongest possible deterrent," Healey said.
The meeting was focussed "on how operational planning of the coalition could work and how we make sure that we're fully prepared for the moment a peace agreement is reached," he added.
Capitals have however been hesitant to commit to deploying their troops to Ukraine as the United States has so far refused to provide a security "backstop" to a Western mission.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said in the past that such a guarantee is vital to deterring Russian aggression.
Finnish Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen and his Sweden counterpart Pal Jonson struck a similar cord as they arrived at the meeting, stressing the importance of US involvement in the mission.
Jonson also said that the ultimate number of needed soldiers will depend on the final mandate of the potential mission and if the focus will lie on peacekeeping, deterrence or reassurance.
More generally, US military support - in terms of logistics, air power and intelligence - is seen as major factor to the mission's success.
Work was also under way on plans for even greater support for the Ukrainian armed forces through training and weapons deliveries.
The idea is to make Ukraine's army so powerful that Russia does not dare to commit any further attacks.
Healey said 30 countries were represented at Thursday's gathering.
On Friday, Britain and Germany are to chair a meeting of the broader Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Brussels, bringing together around 50 nations to raise further military support for Ukraine.
Source: Qatar Tribune