Stabilization forces from the UK and France for Ukraine should include thousands of combat troops if the West truly wants to deter Russia from violating a post-war ceasefire, said retired US Army Europe commander General Ben Hodges, according to The Guardian.
Source: Gazeta.UA
According to him, the proposed multinational forces, discussed this week by the leaders of Britain and France with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris, must be strong enough to counter potential provocations from the Kremlin.
Hodges emphasized that the “coalition of the willing” must have real combat power and clear rules of engagement that allow for immediate response to any ceasefire violations.
“Captains cannot call Paris or London to ask how to respond to a Russian drone,” he stressed.
The general noted that expecting Russia to adhere to any agreements is unrealistic. He recalled the period from 2014 to 2022, when Moscow repeatedly violated previous ceasefire agreements.
In his view, at least the British and French forces should be able to independently defend themselves against drone attacks and other threats, as Russia, according to Hodges, “will immediately test their ability to respond.”
He concluded that the military presence must be visible and convincing to Russia—so that Russian troops recognize the seriousness of the West’s intentions, rather than seeing these forces as a formal mission confined to barracks far from the line of tension.