The Times of the UK quoted several Western government officials as reporting that military leaders from multiple European countries are considering forming a "guarantee" force of nearly 30,000 troops for Ukraine. This force would be deployed in areas beyond the front lines of the eastern battlefield in Ukraine, primarily relying on air power to deter Russia.

Reports suggest that the UK may deploy troops to key cities, ports, and important state-owned infrastructure in Ukraine, and send "Typhoon" fighter jets to participate in so-called "air policing" missions. Military forces from multiple countries are also considering the use of spy planes, satellites, and drones to monitor the Russian-Ukrainian border. However, the size of the "security" force is significantly smaller than the at least 10,000 troops proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The "guarantee" forces aiding Ukraine will be led by the United Kingdom and France. Multiple countries have simultaneously emphasized that the relevant proposals must be underpinned by the support of the United States. The UK hopes that the US will provide "airspace coverage" for the "guarantee" forces, with one of the plans being to deploy US military aircraft in Poland and Romania.

This is a photo taken on a certain year, month, and day in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, showing the metro bridge and the Dnieper River under the reflection of white snow. Photo by Li Dongxu, Xinhua News Agency.

According to reports, the feasibility of an "air policing" mission is stronger than establishing a "no-fly zone." If the "air policing" mission is based on the current airspace mission of NATO in the three Baltic states, military aircraft would need to be on standby for hours. Establishing a "no-fly zone" would require military aircraft to conduct continuous patrols for hours.

The annual assessment by the UK's "Military Balance" shows that the British Air Force currently has multiple models of fighter jets, including "Typhoon" jets. Defense analyst Francis Tusa believes that, with personnel and parts in place, the UK could deploy up to a certain number of military aircraft to Ukraine.

According to a report by Sky News in the UK, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will travel to Washington next week to meet with US President Donald Trump. He plans to present European-related proposals and explore how to align them with American interests. Starmer stated that European military involvement in maintaining the Russia-Ukraine ceasefire is contingent on the US providing a "safety net."

Russian and American delegations held talks in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, reaching a consensus on negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict. With Trump recently expressing dissatisfaction and even criticism towards Zelensky, European countries are concerned that the ceasefire agreement negotiated between the US and Russia in the future may "favor" Russia.

According to a report by Sky News, the existing joint force "Combined Joint Expeditionary Force" between the UK and France may lead the formation of a "security" force, primarily aimed at creating a "deterrent force" to prevent Russia from violating the ceasefire agreement.

The Times reported that it is unclear whether Russia will accept the European proposal. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated after meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other American representatives that Russia will absolutely not accept any peace agreement that allows the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to station troops in Ukraine. (Hai Yang)

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Source: Xinhua News Agency

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