European and regional allies are securing commitments for a peacekeeping force to enter Ukraine after a ceasefire, seeking pledges by the end of the week. Estonia offered at least a military unit; Lithuania said it could send troops; Romania refused to deploy forces but offered airfields for F-35 patrols enforcing a no-fly zone; Turkiye is considering sending troops and assisting with Black Sea demining. German military officials estimate a requirement of at least 10,000 troops for a sustained mission. Europeans sought US participation during the August 18 White House meeting; the US pledged non-troop contributions such as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance and has resisted further sanctions.
Since their summit with United States President Donald Trump in the White House on August 18, Kyiv's European and regional allies have begun to nail down commitments to a peacekeeping force that would enter Ukraine after a ceasefire is reached in the war that Russia began three and a half years ago. They aim to collect those commitments by the end of the week.
So far, Estonia has said it was prepared to contribute at least a military unit to the peacekeeping force, and Lithuania had earlier announced it was ready to send an unspecified number of troops. Romania said it would not send troops, but would make its airfields available as bases for F-35 air patrols enforcing a no-fly zone over Ukraine. Turkiye is considering sending troops, and would help de-mine the Black Sea, Ukraine's ambassador to Ankara said.
Colonel Andre Wuestner, the head of the German Armed Forces Association, told the Reuters news agency that at least 10,000 troops would be needed for an extended period. It won't be enough to have a handful of generals and smaller military units man a command post in Ukraine, Wuestner said. A resident holds his cat as he stands near his apartment building hit during a Russian drone and missile attack in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine August 30, 2025 [Stringer/Reuters]
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