Trump-sized hole in Europe's military masterplan for Ukraine

Whatever happens to the war in Ukraine, European countries are adamant on one element: Once a ceasefire is agreed upon, an international military force should be deployed to support the war-torn country's security and — as European leaders often put it — to ensure that Russia "won't be able to resume its aggression".

- Jonathan Eyal

This was the one conclusion to emerge from the summit of European leaders held in London on March 2. It will be one of the key themes of another summit of European Union member states scheduled for March 6.

The British and French are already leading the effort to create such a force. They are asking the US to provide American military muscle to protect this force, a "backstop" against any Russian offensive, as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer likes to describe it.

Yet everything about this force — from its purpose to its composition, mission and shape — remains unclear.

What is clear, however, is that this project could either become Europe's most significant military undertaking and blossom into a new continental security structure or end up as Europe's biggest military flop. The stakes are that high, and there is little scope for manoeuvre.

WHAT'S NEEDED ON THE GROUND?

For US President Donald Trump, impatiently demanding a ceasefire, history either does not exist or is a mere detail that can be wished away with "alternative facts".

During Mr Trump's disastrous Feb 28 meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, when the American President and his deputy rudely harangued Mr Zelensky in an act of discourtesy seldom experienced by any visiting head of state, Mr Trump attempted to correct the Ukrainian leader by telling Mr Zelensky that the first Russian invasion of his country took place in 2015 and not in 2014, as Mr Zelensky claimed.