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French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that Turkish, British and French troops could be part of a planned “reassurance force” that would deploy to Ukraine once a peace agreement is reached in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
In an interview with France’s RTL Radio, Macron said details of the U.S.-backed peace plan “still need improvement,” noting that Paris wants a peace that is not “a capitulation.”
A few hours before a video call of the so-called coalition of the willing, Macron explained that the reassurance force would operate “far away from the front line” once fighting stops.
“There are British, French, Turkish soldiers who, the day peace is signed, so not in a context of war, are there to conduct training and security operations, as we do in certain countries on NATO’s eastern flank,” he said.
“We have about 20 countries that have already said what they are prepared to do actively, either in the air, on land or at sea.”
The coalition was formed earlier this year to provide security guarantees for Ukraine and strengthen its defenses against future Russian aggression.
Macron said the deployment would be carried out through an “intergovernmental coalition,” not under NATO command.
He also said an “air reassurance” component could be stationed outside Ukraine while supporting the Ukrainian Air Force.
While Turkish officials have not commented on Macron’s latest remarks, Turkish Defense Ministry sources said in March that Türkiye may consider sending troops if needed.
An unnamed Turkish official told Reuters in August that Türkiye’s participation would depend on a cease-fire and require a clear mandate.
Though a NATO member, Türkiye has maintained dialogue with both Kyiv and Moscow and positioned itself as a mediator throughout the conflict.
Macron said a strong Ukrainian military remains the primary guarantee for any post-war settlement.
France’s Army Chief of Staff Pierre Schill previously stated that French forces could deploy as part of security guarantees as early as 2026.
In September, 26 coalition nations agreed to form a support force to be deployed in Ukraine immediately after a ceasefire or peace agreement.
The Wall Street Journal reported that European military planners have drafted a proposal envisioning two land-based support groups inside Ukraine.
The discussion comes amid intensified diplomatic efforts. U.S., Russian and Ukrainian officials recently held talks in Abu Dhabi following consultations in Geneva on the Washington-drafted peace plan.
The original 28-point plan, which barred NATO troops from Ukraine and proposed a 600,000-soldier peacetime force, was reduced to 19 points.
According to the Financial Times, the U.S. and Ukraine later agreed on a cap of 800,000 personnel.
Macron warned that limiting Ukraine’s military too severely would make lasting peace impossible, saying, “The main security guarantee for both Ukrainians and for us is a powerful army.”
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