Defence ministers across Europe admitted that they could not assemble a troops force of 64,000 for Ukraine deployment, and they would find it challenging to mobilize even 25,000 troops, with potentially 5-10,000 British soldiers among them.

Rewritten Article:

European defense ministers are facing hurdles in sending a significant military force to Ukraine due to political restraints and prioritizing financial/material aid over direct involvement. Instead, they're focusing on alternative security strategies.

Originally, the U.K. was willing to send up to 10,000 personnel, but defense ministers from across Europe stated there's "no chance" they can muster such a force. Even 25,000 would be a struggle for a joint effort, according to a source from Brussels.

The Times recently reported that Britain and France might dispatch training troops to western Ukraine instead of assembling a multinational ground force to protect key cities and vital infrastructure. Instead, the focus will be on rebuilding and rearming Kyiv's military, with air and sea protection.

Allies expressed their reservations to John Healey, the U.K. defense secretary, and pointed out that a force of that size would require 256,000 troops on the ground over a two-year period, considering rotations.

Lithuania’s defense minister, Dovile Sakaliene, allegedly told her counterparts, "Russia has 800,000 [troops]. If we can't even raise 64,000, it doesn't look weak – it is weak."

These discussions reveal the reliance of Britain and Europe on the U.S. for a serious deterrent against Russia. One participant suggested sending special forces instead, as this wouldn’t necessitate parliamentary approval at home.

Estonia and Finland reportedly had reservations about deployment diluting their own border defenses, while Poland, Spain, and Italy declared they wouldn’t commit any soldiers, according to the source.

"Without large populous countries committing [troops], it is a dead end," the source added. France has reportedly agreed to commit approximately the same number as the U.K., between 5,000 and 10,000 troops.

Another source from the U.K. disclosed that Finland and Germany were generally against sending ground forces, although Berlin hasn't completely ruled out the possibility. The British Army, facing a steady decline in size, is also grappling with artillery shortages and problems with "enablers" such as supply trucks and other essential equipment normally provided by America.

The Dilemma of Direct Military Force

Political hurdles: Deploying troops risks direct NATO-Russia confrontation, which member states generally avoid.
Resource allocation: Efforts are primarily centered on sustaining Ukraine’s defense via equipment, training, and financial support rather than manpower.
Domestic pressure: Public opinion and electoral concerns in some EU states (e.g., Hungary) complicate consensus on deeper military engagement.

Alternative Security Engagements

Financial and military aid: Europe has allocated €138 billion since 2022, with recent pledges extending up to €21 billion for weaponry, air defense, and ammunition.
Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism: A €18.1 billion EU-G7 syndicated loan channeled through the EU budget, utilizing profits from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine after March 2025.
European Peace Facility: €10.6 billion in approved military support via the EPF, including drones, artillery, and training, with €6.4 billion remaining through 2027 for Ukraine and other global security missions.

Continuing Obstacles

Hungary’s veto threats: Workarounds like the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism are necessary due to veto threats over using Russian asset profits.
Production bottlenecks: Delays in delivering advanced weapons, despite increased funding, persist due to production bottlenecks.
Russia’s battlefield gains: Allies are under pressure to accelerate support while avoiding escalation due to Russia’s battlefield gains.

By prioritizing financial mechanisms and material aid, European states are working to maintain Ukraine's defense without crossing the threshold into direct military confrontation.

The likelihood of deploying a significant military force to Ukraine is dwindling due to political obstacles and the commitment to providing financial and material assistance instead.
The UK initially showed a willingness to send 10,000 personnel, but European defense ministers have expressed doubts about assembling such a force, with 25,000 being a struggle even for a joint effort.
Europe's reliance on the US for a serious deterrent against Russia is becoming apparent, as sending a large-scale ground force could dilute war-and-conflicts-related news involving border defenses of countries like Estonia, Finland, Poland, Spain, and Italy.
Alternative strategies, such as providing financial aid, setting up the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism, and using the European Peace Facility, are being employed to maintain Ukraine's defense without crossing into full-scale direct military involvement.