European Troops for Ukraine? Evolving Perspectives and Strategic Debates on the Deployment of European Ground Troops to Ukraine
In February 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron sparked an intense debate by suggesting the deployment of European ground troops to Ukraine. However, other NATO and EU leaders quickly dismissed such an idea. French authorities rushed to frame it as part of a strategic ambiguity policy, emphasising non-combat roles to avoid a public outburst. Although the idea faded, reports in December 2024 revealed renewed Franco-British discussions on deploying Western troops to prevent another Russian aggression in the context of a potential US shift in European priorities under the new Trump administration and announced peace talks. Analysing European leaders’ reactions and future scenarios for possible deployment, this article finds that the suggestion mainly served to signal to other actors that European states are preparing to assume responsibility for guaranteeing Ukraine’s security when a peace agreement is reached. Although such a project is likely to remain in the discussion stage, the existence of the debate itself may help shape European geopolitical actorness at a time of increasing instability throughout the continent.
