U.S. is consulting European nations on their security assurance requirements for Ukraine

The United States has inquired with its European allies regarding their requirements from Washington to engage in security arrangements for Ukraine, as indicated by a document reviewed by Reuters.

This diplomatic initiative, which was communicated last week, outlines six key points and questions. It seeks to identify which nations might contribute to the security guarantees, those willing to send troops to Ukraine as part of a peace agreement, and the potential size of any European-led military force.

Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump surprised European partners by reaching out to Russian President Vladimir Putin—whose military invaded Ukraine three years prior—without prior consultation with them or Kyiv, and announced an immediate commencement of peace negotiations.

Reports from various news outlets, including Reuters, revealed that the U.S. had circulated a document to European governments inquiring about their potential contributions to security guarantees. However, the complete text obtained by Reuters indicates that the U.S. is also interested in understanding what support they would require from Washington to facilitate their involvement.

This aspect is likely to be positively received by numerous European governments, which have expressed that they could only offer security guarantees with U.S. support. One of the questions posed was, “What, if any, U.S. support requirements would your government consider necessary for its participation in these security arrangements? Specifically, which short-term and long-term resources do you think will be required from the U.S.?”

Two European diplomats noted that discussions are ongoing regarding how European capitals should respond, with some advocating for a unified response. Additionally, several European leaders, including those from Britain and Germany, are scheduled to convene in Paris on Monday for an urgent summit focused on Ukraine.

The document inquires about which European or third countries might be willing to engage in such an arrangement and whether their nation would consider sending troops to Ukraine as part of a peace agreement. It poses the question, “If military forces from a third country were to be deployed to Ukraine under a peace framework, what do you believe would be the appropriate size for a European-led contingent? Additionally, how and where should these forces be stationed, and for what duration?”

Furthermore, countries were prompted to consider what actions the U.S., allies, and partners should be ready to undertake in the event of a Russian attack on these forces. The questionnaire also seeks to understand what additional capabilities, equipment, and maintenance support their government is willing to offer Ukraine to enhance its negotiating position and exert more pressure on Russia.

Lastly, it queries what measures governments would be prepared to implement to escalate sanctions against Russia, including the stricter enforcement of current sanctions.