Kyiv, the US and European allies have discussed plans for a phased response — potentially involving US forces — if Russia violates any future ceasefire agreement, according to a report
Ukraine and its western allies have discussed proposals under which repeated Russian breaches of any future ceasefire would trigger a coordinated US-European military response, according to a Financial Times report, citing sources briefed on the talks.
The plan, discussed by Ukrainian, European and American officials, would see an initial response within 24 hours of a ceasefire violation.
That response would begin with a diplomatic warning, alongside action by Ukrainian forces to halt the breach, reported Financial Times, citing three people familiar with the proposal, adding the details have not been independently verified.
If fighting were to continue, a second phase would involve intervention by forces from a so-called “coalition of the willing” — a group of more than 20 countries that have pledged to provide Ukraine with security guarantees once a ceasefire with Russia is reached.
Moscow has so far maintained its maximalist demands in negotiations.
According to the report, citing officials, if a ceasefire violation escalated into a broader attack, a third phase would be triggered after three days, involving a coordinated military response by a western-backed force that would include the US military.
American, European and Ukrainian officials held several rounds of discussions on the proposals in December and January, the Financial Times reported.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has played a leading role in the coalition initiative, said last month following talks in Paris that the UK and France would be prepared to send troops to Ukraine “in the event of a peace deal” with Russia.
Russia has repeatedly said it would view the deployment of any foreign military forces or infrastructure in Ukraine as unacceptable foreign intervention.
The Russian foreign ministry said on Monday, citing foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, that such forces would be treated as legitimate targets.
Meanwhile, a second round of talks between Russian, Ukrainian and US officials on a US-drafted plan to end the war is set to begin on Wednesday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said over the weekend.
Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to bring an end to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, now nearing its fourth year, attacks on Ukrainian towns and cities have continued.
Russian forces launched strikes on Kyiv, Kharkiv and other centres early on Tuesday, according to officials, sparking fires and damaging energy infrastructure.
At least four people were injured in the attacks in the two largest cities, officials said.
With inputs from agencies
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