A strategy to deploy thousands of European soldiers into Ukraine, should a peace agreement be established between Kyiv and Moscow, is facing a major opponent: the European populace.
President Trump has recently warmed to the ideasecurity assurances offered by the U.S. to Ukraine, following a proposal from France and the U.K. to deploy a “reassurance force” in the country after a peace agreement aimed at preventing additional Russian attacks.
European leaders, however, are facing the challenging reality that numerous voters are against any deployment that risks sending troops into dangerous situations. Eastern European nations are reluctant to move their forces from their own borders, which serve as the eastern edge of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Resistance is also significant in Italy and Germany, countries that are still influenced by the memory of World War II.
When German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently mentioned he intended to start discussing with parliament the potential for a military presence in Ukraine, the response was cautious. His own foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, stated that such a deployment would test the Bundeswehr’s capabilities, as it was already establishing an armored brigade in Lithuania to safeguard NATO’s eastern border. Other political figures argued that the conversation was premature, given there was no indication a peace agreement was close.
Germany’s military deployments can only be approved by the parliament, which is led by a government with a limited majority. The far-right and far-left opposition parties strongly oppose sending troops to Ukraine. A recent survey conducted by Insa polling company last week revealed that 56% of participants were against Germany’s involvement, marking an increase from the previous spring.
“I’m worried the German Armed Forces might not have the ability to handle such a mission without leaving us vulnerable domestically,” said Leonard Wolters, 28, who works in marketing for a Berlin-based startup.
Even in France, which is one of the key advocates for sending troops to the ground, public backing depends on the existence of a final peace agreement, rather than just a ceasefire. A March poll conducted by Elabe revealed that 67% of those surveyed favored a French deployment if Kyiv and Moscow achieve a peace deal. In the absence of such an agreement, 68% of respondents were against it.
Nicolas Degages, a 45-year-old theater technician based in Paris, does not view Russia as a danger to France, yet he feels skeptical about Europe’s direction. “If our presence in Ukraine is for reconstruction, that’s acceptable,” he states. “However, if we are there to sow uncertainty and keep the conflict going, then there’s no purpose.”
European authorities state that it is challenging to gain public support for any deployment without a definitive assurance from the U.S. regarding the involvement of the world’s most sophisticated military. Although there has been a surge of intense diplomatic efforts in recent weeks, there remains no clarity on what the U.S. is prepared to offer. Trump has excluded the possibility of sending troops to the ground, while indicating that the U.S. will play a part in ensuring Ukraine’s security.
Several European leaders argue that sending troops to Ukraine is essential for Europe’s safety, cautioning that Russia could advance into other regions of Europe if Kyiv were to fall. Having soldiers on the ground also demonstrates Europe’s dedication to supporting Ukraine, as Washington evaluates the types of security assurances to eventually offer.
These arguments receive significant backing in certain areas of Europe, especially in the northern nations. The Netherlands, Denmark, and Estonia have indicated their willingness to deploy soldiers.
French President Emmanuel Macron has attempted to calm the public by stating that any deployment would be located at airports and other critical infrastructure, away from conflict areas. Macron and other European leaders have consistently maintained that frontline defenses should be the responsibility of…well-armed Ukrainian military.
The goal of these reassurance forces is not to ensure peacekeeping missions. They won’t be responsible for securing the border,” Macron stated, noting that French troops would “offer strategic assistance.
Britain’s participation is still conditional. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has indicated that such a security force would only be sent if the U.S. guarantees a safeguard that would offer military support to its forces if they face Russian aggression. According to surveys, most of the British public are in favor of their military taking part in any peacekeeping operation but do not wish to risk an outright clash with Russia.
Starmer’s administration has not commented on whether British forces in Ukraine would be permitted to engage Russian troops if Ukraine faces another invasion.
In the meantime, ambitious plans for a European peacekeeping force of 30,000 personnel have been scaled down partly due to Britain’s insufficient military personnel. France and the U.K. are planning to deploy between 6,000 and 10,000 troops. Officials state that Britain’s participation will probably center on naval and aerial operations, assisting in monitoring the skies and seas to prevent any Russian advances. Any ground forces involvement is expected to concentrate on training Ukrainian land-based troops.
The effort to establish a narrowly focused European force is facing resistance, especially from the continent’s populist figures. Following European leaders’ meeting with Trump in Washington, which generated support for a U.S.-backed force, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini criticized Macron for promoting the concept.
“You go there if you want. Put on your helmet, your jacket, your rifle, and head to Ukraine,” said Salvini, the leader of the nationalist League party.
Poland was among the leading contributors of assistance to Ukraine during the initial years of the conflict, providing fighter jets, tanks, helicopters, and armored vehicles to the front lines. However, Warsaw has established a clear boundary regarding the deployment of its own troops to Ukraine as part of a larger U.S.-supported security initiative.
The dangers of deploying troops to Ukraine are significantly greater for neighboring countries, according to Poland. Warsaw contends that its military could provoke a worsening of the conflict, potentially extending into Polish territory.
After the increase in support in 2022 and the significant arrival of Ukrainian refugees due to the war, the issue has become highly politicized in Poland, with many pushing for a more restrained approach regarding assistance. According to a survey conducted by independent pollster United Surveys in March of this year, 58.5% of participants strongly opposed sending troops to Ukraine, while 28% indicated that Poland should “probably not” send forces to the neighboring nation.
Write to Stacy Meichtry atStacy.Meichtry@wsj.com, Bertrand Benoit at bertrand.benoit@wsj.com and Max Colchester at Max.Colchester@wsj.com
