On January 13, according to sources familiar with the matter, Britain and France are likely to abandon plans to deploy troops to Ukraine after a potential ceasefire without US support.
Sources said that the leaders of Italy, Germany, France, Canada and the UK, along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, are expected to meet with US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos next week.
The discussions will revolve around the security assurances that the US can provide in case Russia and Ukraine reach a ceasefire agreement. However, Western European countries are said to be concerned about the level of Mr. Trump's commitment to supporting Ukraine.
If the US does not participate, things will not be possible" - the source shared with the press, especially mentioning the commitments of Britain and France to deploy troops. "It is still unclear what Mr. Trump really thinks.
Last week, Britain and France signed a "Declaration of Intention" with Ukraine, outlining a plan to deploy forces on Ukrainian territory after reaching a peace agreement. This roadmap is expected to deploy several thousand soldiers far from the front lines and establish "military centers".
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said that Mr. Trump "strongly supports" mechanisms to ensure security for Ukraine, but did not specify how Washington will implement those mechanisms.
Previously, the US President also described support for Kiev as primarily the responsibility of Europe, although not excluding a certain level of support from the US.
For its part, Russia has rejected the idea of deploying any Western forces in Ukraine, warning that foreign units will be considered "legitimate targets" and arguing that the plans of pro-Kiev countries are synonymous with external intervention.
