Trump Weighs Deployment of American Private Military Contractors in Post-War Ukraine
US President Donald Trump is discussing with European partners the possibility of involving private military contractors in Ukraine after a peace agreement is reached.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to The Telegraph.
According to anonymous sources, Donald Trump is actively negotiating with European partners on the possibility of allowing private military firms to operate on Ukrainian territory. This plan could be a workaround after the US President stressed the impossibility of sending American troops to Ukraine.
Importantly, their presence is seen as an additional deterrent for the Kremlin, so that Vladimir Putin does not dare to violate a possible final ceasefire.
All this is part of a broader package of security guarantees currently being discussed by the coalition of the willing led by the UK and France. It includes not only contractors, but also issues of airspace patrols, training programs, and naval missions in the Black Sea.
It is expected that the first concrete decisions may be announced in the coming days after a series of diplomatic meetings that were intensified by Trump's talks with Putin in Alaska.
American private military contractors are reportedly being considered as a key element of a long-term peace plan for Ukraine, with potential roles in constructing frontline defenses and bases, much like their past involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Their presence is seen as an additional incentive for European allies and, at the same time, as a deterrent to Russia, since an attack on American citizens could provoke a response from the US.
A Whitehall official stated that private American contractors “put American ‘boots’, i.e. American passport holders, on the ground, which is then effectively the deterrent to Putin.”
Notably, discussions about bringing in contractors have been going on since the US-Ukraine agreement on developing Ukrainian natural resources was signed. The White House still isn't ready to send its own troops to Ukraine, but it supports the idea of using European forces as part of a peace deal, leaving room for private companies to get involved.
In addition, this format allows Donald Trump to balance the needs of foreign policy with the mood of his electorate. The use of contractors is presented as a compromise: on the one hand, the US will have “its share in the game,” and on the other, it will be possible to avoid accusations of direct intervention, which is especially important for supporters of the MAGA camp.
Read more on The Gaze: Ukraine’s Security Guarantees: Latest Proposals in Focus