The United States has asked European capitals what they can contribute in terms of security guarantees for Ukraine, four European sources said on Saturday.
The sources said that the United States had sent a document asking questions that include possible future contributions from the troops, and two of the sources added that it had been sent earlier this week.
The Financial Times for the first time that Washington had asked its European allies to provide armament information, peace maintenance troops and security arrangements that they could provide to Ukraine.
“The idea is obviously seeing how European allies see the possible framework for negotiations to put an end to the conflict and possible commitment of Europe and the United States,” said a conscious European diplomat of the document.
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It included six questions with a specifically for Member States of the European Union, a diplomat said.
The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, requested on Saturday the creation of a European army, arguing that the continent could no longer be sure of the protection of the United States and would only obtain Washington's respect with a military solid.
“The Americans approach the European capitals and ask how many soldiers are ready to deploy,” said a third diplomat.
The United States Department of State did not immediately respond to a request for comments.