The US is refusing to provide air defenses to support the “guarantee force” that the United Kingdom and France plan in Ukraine postwar, people said familiar with the subject. British Prime Minister Keir Strmer has insisted that so-called US support is essential for determining Russia to violate any future ceasefire agreement.
But European allies have concluded, during discussions with their American counterparts, that President Donald Trump will not provide the guarantees they sought to support the “coalition of the willing people” led by Europe, according to people, who asked anonymity to reveal private discussions.
The United Kingdom government refused to comment. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The reluctance of the US to provide support sought by its European partners highlights how Western allies are in disagreement with how to deal with Russian aggression in Ukraine.
European employees said the US guarantee was necessary along with a strong Ukrainian force supported by allied training and troops to stop Russia.
“There must be a US support,” said Strmer in February. “The guarantee of US security is the only way to effectively stop Russia to attack Ukraine again.”
Continues after advertising
The United Kingdom and France had been trying to persuade Trump to offer air power, as well as border surveillance and intelligence, Bloomberg previously informed.
Despite reduced expectations about the potential US supply to postwar Ukraine, the United Kingdom and France remain hopeful that the US will continue to provide intelligence, as well as Ukraine and Russia border surveillance, people said.
Some European employees also expect Trump to intervene if British and French troops are targeted by Russia in Ukraine, but they find it unlikely to put such a written guarantee, one of the people said.
Continues after advertising
In addition, European governments have adjusted their assessment of what is needed to stop Russia. Now they believe that a combination of Ukrainian force, allied training, European troops and aircraft parked at the East Rear of NATO and Black Sea Patrols is enough, said one of the people.
“We appreciated the work that allies, particularly France and the United Kingdom with Germany and others, performed to develop the coalition of the will,” said the US ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, to reporters in Brussels on Wednesday.
“We have all our European allies to continue taking the lead in the contribution of military resources and supply of political capital to make security guarantees a reality.”
Continues after advertising
The Allied Force – which would help to ensure the safety of Airspace, Coast and Ukraine Territory, positioning European Troops away from the border in critical ports and infrastructures, along with the continuity of military equipment deliveries – depends on a peace agreement, which European officers find increasingly unlikely.
The United Kingdom and France have completed the mapping from which the force will be based and how it will operate, but put the plan on hold until the ceasefire negotiations are resumed, people said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s apparent determination to continue his attack on Ukraine and Trump’s demand that Europe takes responsibility for his own security led allies to increase defending spending and plan how to ensure that Russia does not attack Ukraine again if peace is achieved.
Continues after advertising
Of the 30 coalition participants, which also includes non -European countries such as Canada, Australia, Japan and New Zealand, fifteen offered forces including aircraft, naval ships and other military equipment, Bloomberg said in April.
Still, countries that have made a firm commitment to send troops are in one digit numbers.
Trump is expected to meet with allies at the seven group meeting in Canada and the NATO summit later this month.
Continues after advertising
NATO plans to ask Europe and Canada to increase their weaponry and equipment stocks by about 30% in the coming years, requiring a large financial increase in most capitals.
A new ambitious goal to be agreed – spending 5% in defense and related policies – is designed to satisfy Trump’s demand that Europe will take more on security burden.
© 2025 Bloomberg L.P.
