Europe’s top defense ministers back Ukraine but do not pledge troop deployments

Defense ministers from Europe’s five largest military spenders have affirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire or peace agreement with Russia, although they stopped short of committing troops to enforce such an agreement during their meeting in Paris on Wednesday.

“The real negotiations are about to commence,” stated French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu at a press conference in the French capital, when asked if the five nations intended to deploy forces in Ukraine. “It is evident that the pace of media coverage is quicker than that of diplomatic and military developments.”

The ministers from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, and Italy convened to discuss the situation in Ukraine and the broader defense of Europe, particularly as the United States appears poised to scale back its security commitments on the continent. Collectively, these five nations represent Europe’s largest defense expenditures, with a projected total of approximately $314 billion in 2024, according to NATO figures.

This meeting follows the endorsement by the U.S. and Ukraine of a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire on Tuesday, which is now pending a response from Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated that the ceasefire would provide an opportunity for both sides to prepare for a definitive resolution to the conflict that erupted after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, including security assurances for Ukraine.

U.K. Secretary for Defence John Healey described the agreement between the U.S. and Ukraine as “a crucial step,” emphasizing that it is now up to Russian President Vladimir Putin to demonstrate his commitment to peace. German Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius echoed this sentiment, stating that the responsibility lies with Putin.

European nations are opposed to a peace agreement in Ukraine resembling the Yalta Conference, which divided Europe into spheres of influence, the Budapest Memorandum, where Ukraine relinquished its nuclear arsenal for assurances, or the Minsk agreements that led to ceasefires without security guarantees, according to Lecornu.

Lecornu emphasized that demilitarization of Ukraine is not an option, asserting that the strongest security guarantee for the nation lies in its military forces. To keep Russia as distant as possible from their territories, Poland’s Minister of Defence, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, stated that supporting Ukraine is essential.

Lecornu noted that military chiefs have begun developing short- and medium-term strategies to help policymakers envision a security framework for Ukraine. Urgent issues to address include security in the Black Sea and the protection of Ukraine’s nuclear power facilities.

He remarked, “The reality is that this is a long-term endeavor that also enables us to consider broader aspects of protection and Europe’s defense strategy.” Lecornu pointed out that Europe’s security is challenged not only by the Russian threat but also by the potentially unpredictable behavior of the American ally.

Pistorius highlighted that the U.S. shift away from Europe was evident even before President Donald Trump’s election, although the speed and extent of this transition remained uncertain.

“Thus, our challenge is not merely to adapt but to accelerate our efforts,” Pistorius stated. He advocated for the creation of a roadmap with the U.S. to ensure that the transition of responsibilities is systematic and gradual, thereby avoiding the risk of significant capability gaps.

Healey asserts that a stable Europe and a robust NATO align with American interests. He emphasized that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has clarified that urging European nations to enhance their defense capabilities does not imply that the U.S. will withdraw its support from Ukraine or European security.

Key priorities for Europe include bolstering air defense systems to counter both advanced threats and drone attacks.

Lecornu stated that there is a need to fundamentally reassess aspects of Europe’s ground-based air defense. He noted that the five ministers engaged in discussions about expediting current capacity plans, which have been progressing too slowly.

Lecornu expressed a desire to explore collaboration with Germany’s European Sky Shield Initiative. So far, France and Italy have opted not to participate, as Germany has suggested using the U.S.-manufactured Patriot system instead of the French-Italian SAMP/T for long-range defense.

Another critical area of focus is space, where Lecornu warned of a significant risk of Europe lagging behind. He pointed out the reliance on Starlink, while the European alternative, IRIS2, remains distant. The five ministers concurred on the urgency to advance discussions regarding space initiatives.

France, in collaboration with Germany, has proposed advancements in early warning systems to detect missile launches from Russia and Iran through satellite and radar technology. Lecornu described this as a “formidable” challenge in terms of both technological development and budget considerations, but emphasized that it is a crucial area where progress is necessary.

The ministers addressed challenges within the European defense industry supply chain and explored potential solutions, such as relocating some production back to Europe. Lecornu noted that while this “relocalization agenda” could be costly for individual nations, it could be more effectively managed through collaboration among countries.

To enhance European defense production, significant investment in new manufacturing lines is essential. Lecornu referred to this as a “chicken-and-egg problem,” explaining that continued reliance on military equipment from outside Europe would hinder the continent’s ability to reach the necessary scale for new production capabilities. He suggested that increasing licensed production among European nations could create local job opportunities.

Pistorius pointed out that European countries currently operate too many distinct large weapon systems. He mentioned that the ministers have outlined three key steps to facilitate quicker and less bureaucratic joint procurement: standardizing the way governments articulate capability needs, establishing more joint framework contracts, and implementing consistent weapon-system certification across Europe.

“I firmly believe that if we take action now and prioritize security in Europe over narrow national interests, we will emerge from this situation stronger,” Pistorius stated.