According to Die Welt, France and the United Kingdom are ready to send their troops to Ukraine even without a UN or EU mandate after a ceasefire is reached. The number of such a mission could range from 10,000 to 15,000 soldiers.
France and the United Kingdom are prepared to participate in an observation operation of "multinational forces" to ensure a future peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv. This was reported on Wednesday, December 31, by the newspaper Die Welt, citing sources among European diplomats.
According to the publication, British and French military officials, together with representatives of the EU, have already developed plans to provide security guarantees for Ukraine. Moreover, France and the United Kingdom are ready to send their troops to participate in the observation mission even without a corresponding UN or European Union mandate. They will only need the consent of official Kyiv.
As sources from Die Welt report, the project for such an observation mission stipulates that French and British troops will be able to open fire if necessary to maintain the ceasefire. Additionally, the participation of military personnel from other unnamed European countries is being discussed. Diplomats believe that in the initial months of the ceasefire, the number of such "international forces" could range from 10,000 to 15,000 troops.
It is expected that the "multinational forces" will ensure the security of Ukraine from the sea and air, also from the territory of neighboring countries. Die Welt does not name them but suggests that Turkey could play a significant role in the observation mission, particularly in the Black Sea area.
The EU is preparing a new package of sanctions against Russia
As Die Welt writes, by the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2026, the EU plans a new, 20th package of sanctions. According to sources from the publication, Brussels is discussing a ban on entry into the EU and the freezing of assets of certain individuals and organizations, as well as sanctions in the energy sector. In particular, there is talk of a ban on the import of Russian uranium into the European Union, which is currently opposed by France and Belgium.
