Paris (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – French Finance Minister Eric Lombard said France, the Brian, Germany, and other European countries are prepared to send troops to Ukraine to support and enforce a ceasefire once a deal is reached with Russia.
As he spoke in Cape Town during a G20 finance ministers’ gathering, Lombard stressed that any European peacekeeping deployment would need support from the United States—something he claimed Washington had already agreed to.
“If we want a ceasefire to be respected, we need a US backup,”
Lombard said.
“I believe the Americans have agreed to do that.”
Lombard did not discuss the size or scope of the potential European mission but emphasized that ensuring a ceasefire is maintained will require international coordination.
“We discussed all the issues—trade, tariffs, non-tariff barriers,”
Lombard stated.
“We agreed to continue to talk, which is a step forward.”
How did Macron’s US visit influence Ukraine discussions?
In the past week, French President Emmanuel Macron visited the US for high-level discussions with US President Donald Trump. He also met Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. While the primary schedule included trade negotiations, Ukraine was also a critical topic. Beyond security concerns, the French delegation’s visit to the US also touched on economic ties, including trade policies, tariffs, and regulatory impediments.
Macron has earlier advocated for a firmer European part in ensuring security in Ukraine, though his latest talks with Washington suggest that US political backing for European-led peacekeeping efforts may be materializing.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated earlier that a potential ceasefire should be the first stage in the peace process.
“The framework should be as follows: negotiations between the US and Russia, as well as between the US and Ukraine,”
Macron stated, saying that an agreement could be reached in the coming weeks. The French president also urged the United States to stand in solidarity with European partners in the event of an end to execrations.
