United States has placed European allies in the spotlight, asking them to clarify their contribution to the security of Ukraine in the face of continued efforts to broker a ceasefire to the war. A letter obtained by Reuters shows that Washington has asked European governments a series of direct questions, questioning their commitment to a long-term security arrangement for Ukraine.
According to a US State Department spokesperson, the Biden administration expects European partners to take the lead in establishing a “durable security arrangement” and has asked them to outline their contributions.
The survey touches on central concerns, such as what level of security assurances European countries would find adequate to stop Russia while achieving permanent peace. It also asks which nations ought to be involved in such an agreement and if there are any nations that are necessary to the process.
The most urgent question involves the prospect of deploying European troops to Ukraine within a peace accord. US has queried allies about whether they are prepared to commit troops, what size deployment would be needed, and for how long. It also wants assurances on how European countries would react if Russia invaded such forces.
Moreover, Washington is calling on Europe to clarify the degree of US assistance they would require in order to engage in such a security pact, both in the short and long term, including military resources. The report also inquires how much more military assistance European governments are prepared to offer to Ukraine and what more they would do to intensify sanctions against Russia.
The action highlights mounting pressure on the leaders of Europe to become more involved in directing Ukraine’s future security, while the US progresses with diplomatic maneuvers to end the war.
