According to Politico, citing an unnamed European diplomat, Paris and London may face significant challenges in sending troops to Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer are both eager to assert their influence on the global stage. However, the two leaders are encountering a range of political and economic difficulties that cast doubt on their ability to deploy European military forces to Ukraine.

In light of Macron and Starmer’s political fragility, sources noted that it’s difficult to see how such a plan could come to fruition, particularly as both countries are navigating tough economic times.

Additionally, the article highlights that Ukraine’s allies have yet to agree on the specifics of security guarantees, which has led to considerable disagreements. Any European military presence, the sources add, would require a «combat mandate» for self-defense, but their role would not involve peacekeeping — a responsibility that would remain with Ukraine’s own armed forces.