A meeting of 30 nations led by the UK and France today discussed accelerating military planning for a reassurance force in Ukraine, but details on troop numbers and timelines remain unclear. Finland’s participation is under question due to the US’ lack of interest in offering a security guarantee or contributing troops to Ukrainian soil.
UK Defense Secretary John Healey stated that the reassurance force would be a “committed and credible security arrangement” to ensure peace in Ukraine, but failed to provide specifics on its size or launch timeline. Latvia’s Minister of Defense Andris Sprüds expressed caution, saying the force must be tailored to specific circumstances, including ceasefire agreements.
Finland’s Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen emphasized the US’ role in ensuring Finland’s security and hinted that Washington’s involvement is crucial for a decision on Finnish participation. Meanwhile, Sweden’s Defense Minister Pal Jonson highlighted concerns about potential impacts on NATO defense activities before considering participation in the force.
The meeting comes two months after the coalition of willing nations was formed in response to Donald Trump’s peace negotiations with Vladimir Putin. The US has hardened its stance on supporting European-backed efforts focused on renewing military aid for Ukraine, and senior officials will not participate in tomorrow’s Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting involving around 50 countries.
Analysts have proposed three options for a reassurance force: a small-scale force, a medium-scale derivative, or a large-scale option comprising up to 100,000 soldiers. However, the meeting has yet to discuss these options in detail, with many nations still weighing their involvement and concerns about potential impacts on NATO’s defense activities.
Source: https://breakingdefense.com/2025/04/western-coalition-of-the-willing-stumbles-on-reassurance-force-troop-numbers-timeline