Europe looks for alternatives to sending peacekeepers to Ukraine

Reuters reports about this with reference to unnamed officials.

While the UK and France have been working for weeks on a plan to send thousands of troops to Ukraine to ensure a future ceasefire, diplomats say the European officials are increasingly recognizing that such a mission is not the most likely scenario.

"They are taking a step back from ground troops and trying to re-dimension what they were doing to something that could be more sensible," said one European diplomat.

Said another: "When Ukraine was in a better position, the idea of sending troops appealed. But now, with the situation on the ground and the U.S administration as it is, it's not very sexy."

A senior European defense official told Reuters that while the focus was shifting away from the idea of European boots on the ground "it doesn’t mean individual countries won’t have soldiers deployed in Ukraine to provide training and other support".

But even if a big European ground force is not seen as likely now, plans are still being made to keep options open. A concept paper for the summit seen by Reuters refers to a possible future reassurance force in Ukraine "as part of a future peace settlement and with support of the United States".

France, which has been working closely with Britain to come up with options, will host 30 leaders and delegations from around 30 countries on Thursday, part of what has become a "coalition of the willing" to try and lay out some ideas.