FT: Western countries intend to create on Ukraine has three lines of defense

Western countries are considering the creation of three lines of defense as part of the plan to support Ukraine after the conclusion of the peace agreement, the Financial Times reports.

The first includes a demilitarized zone, which may be patrolled by neutral peacekeeping forces from a third country in coordination with Ukraine and Russia.

Then, as expected, the border protection will be provided by Ukrainian troops equipped with weapons and trained by NATO. As a third line of defense, it is proposed to use the deterrence forces under the leadership of the European Union, which will be deployed deep in Ukraine. They will be supported from the rear by American forces.

At the same time, the FT notes that the United States still opposes the deployment of its troops on the territory of Ukraine. According to the newspaper's interlocutors, some representatives of the administration of US President Donald Trump, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, are skeptical about any participation in security guarantees in the event of a peace agreement, fearing that the United States could be drawn into a possible future conflict.

Trump on Monday, August 25, said that the details of security guarantees for Kiev had not yet been discussed. Last week, the Republican told Fox News that the US is "ready to help" European forces, "especially probably from the air."

According to the FT, the United States can provide resources for intelligence, surveillance, command and control, as well as participate in the European-led program for the development of the air defense system of Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin at a joint press conference with Trump in Alaska said he agreed with the Republican that "the security of Ukraine must also be ensured." As Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, Russia stands for collective security guarantees for Ukraine from the West to be reliable and developed on the basis of the principle of indivisibility of security for its neighbors, RBC reminds.