The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports that a significant portion of the European Union (EU) population remains skeptical about sending troops to Ukraine, particularly after a potential ceasefire or peace deal. This skepticism is fueled by concerns over the military risks involved and the lack of clear U.S. security guarantees. While Western European leaders are considering the deployment of thousands of soldiers to Ukraine in the event of hostilities ending, they are facing public resistance, with opposition being especially strong in countries like Germany and Italy, where historical trauma from World War II still influences public sentiment.
The WSJ notes that without a strong U.S. commitment to backstop any deployment, securing public support in the EU remains challenging. U.S. President Donald Trump has ruled out sending ground troops but has indicated other forms of support might be available. Meanwhile, the British public, which generally supports the deployment, remains cautious about the risks of provoking a direct confrontation with Russia. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has emphasized the need for a U.S. security backstop, which Washington has yet to commit to. In Germany, domestic opposition spans both right and left-wing parties, with recent polls showing 56% of citizens opposing troop deployment to Ukraine.
France, while more supportive of a European military force, has seen public opinion depend on the presence of a peace agreement, with over 67% supporting deployment if such an agreement is reached, but 68% opposed without it. The broader implications of these public sentiments underscore the complexities of military intervention in the current geopolitical landscape. Russia has consistently opposed the idea of NATO countries sending in troops, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissing the prospect as one of the root causes of the conflict and reiterating Moscow’s negative stance on current discussions about troop deployments.