Ukraine and Europe at risk: What could the cost of a US compromise with Russia be? A roundup of international media coverage.

In recent days, Europe has been actively discussing the potential implementation of a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, and the project is gaining momentum. The American newspaper Washington Post reports that European countries are considering the option of sending military brigades comprising 25,000 to 30,000 soldiers, although the President of Ukraine insists on the need to establish a peacekeeping contingent of at least 100,000 to 150,000 European troops.

France and the United Kingdom have already expressed their readiness to send troops to Ukraine. The outlines of this military mission are becoming clearer following a meeting of the leaders of eight European countries in Paris on February 17. The meeting also included NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Antonio Costa.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has become the second leader of a European country, after Emmanuel Macron, to publicly announce his willingness to send troops to Ukraine to ensure its security guarantees in the event of a ceasefire. European troops will likely be stationed in the Ukrainian rear but will remain combat-ready. These forces will not be directly on the front lines, and some of them may be based outside of Ukraine, ready for rapid deployment into the country if necessary.

France has become the first country to present the most detailed plan, announcing its readiness to send 10,000 troops, as reported by the Washington Post. European leaders insist that the United States must participate in supporting the peacekeeping contingent in Ukraine, even if it is in the format of C4ISR, which encompasses command, control, communications, intelligence, surveillance, and threat detection for European troops. According to the mission's design, the U.S. should also provide air defense systems and air support to the European military contingent in Ukraine.

According to the Washington Post, the administration of Donald Trump does not rule out such assistance while emphasizing the complexities in forming the optimal composition of the peacekeeping mission, given that many European countries are unwilling to deploy their troops. Donald Trump sent his special representative for Ukraine and Russia, Kurt Volker, on a European tour specifically for negotiations regarding the peacekeeping mission, rather than for a peace plan, as was believed a week ago.

Another important component of the peacekeeping mission is the proposal for a separate mutual defense treaty among the participating countries. Leaders from some European nations insist that NATO's Article 5 should not apply to the contingent of European troops in Ukraine, notes the Washington Post. The primary goal of the mission is not only to act as a peacekeeping force but also to respond to provocations in the event of Russian aggression.

For France and the UK, organizing the mission seems simpler, as they have contingents in Africa that can be redeployed to Ukraine. Germany and Poland have decided to wait for the completion of electoral processes before making specific proposals regarding troop deployments to Ukraine.

The British newspaper Telegraph reports that the capitalization of the largest British defense companies has increased following Prime Minister Keir Starmer's statements about the readiness to deploy troops in Ukraine. The FTSE 100 index of the leading British arms manufacturer BAE Systems has risen more than that of other defense companies, as this company has long been involved in producing weapons for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the UK.

The stock price of BAE Systems has increased by 6%, marking the largest growth in the past 18 months. This has added £2 billion to the company's market capitalization. Currently, BAE Systems is valued at £40 billion. Shares of other British military contractors, such as Rolls-Royce and QinetiQ Group, have also risen amid the ramping up of military cooperation with Ukraine and discussions about the possible deployment of British troops to the country.

Thus, the confrontation between the United States and the EU has become a catalyst for discussions about ensuring the security of Ukraine and Europe without U.S. involvement, notes the Telegraph. This is not only a test of the resilience of European alliances but also a test of readiness for new challenges in global geopolitics, where America shows a willingness to negotiate with Russia, ignoring European interests.

Alongside the discussions about sending a European peacekeeping mission to Ukraine, the United States is considering the possibility of withdrawing some of its troops from Eastern Europe. Italian Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, the new head of NATO's military committee, confirmed in an interview with the American publication Bloomberg that the issue of partially withdrawing American troops from Europe is actively being considered.

Currently, about 100,000 American troops are stationed in Europe, but U.S. priorities are shifting towards the Asia-Pacific region. However, Giuseppe Cavo Dragone does not believe that America plans to withdraw a significant number of troops and urges any changes to be viewed from an operational perspective. He expressed confidence that European forces are sufficiently strong to replace American troops if necessary and called doubts about Europe's self-defense "blasphemy."

Meanwhile, journalist Gideon Rachman from the American newspaper Financial Times points out that European politicians fear that Donald Trump may agree to Vladimir Putin's demand to withdraw American troops from the Baltic States.

After U.S. Vice President James D. Vance's speech at the Munich Security Conference, which was perceived as an attack on European democracy, Europe felt that it was left to face security threats alone. When asked if the U.S. is now seen as a rival to Europe, one senior German politician answered with a single word: "Yes."

"Vance's speech in Munich was a direct attack on European democracy," said the German official in a conversation with the Financial Times.

The ideology of the Trump administration is now, in many respects, closer to Putin than to Zelensky, believes Financial Times journalist Gideon Rachman. Trump allegedly views Putin as a politician fighting for his country and its conservative values.

Moreover, the Trump administration perceives the far-right political forces in Europe as its true allies. This was confirmed by James D. Vance's meeting with the leader of the far-right "Alternative for Germany," Alice Weidel, in Munich. At the same time, the U.S. Vice President ignored German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and refused to meet him.

It is time for Europe to strengthen its defense capabilities and establish a mutual defense pact without American involvement to protect democracy and the strategic interests of the European continent, including Ukraine, concluded Gideon Rachman.