Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO’s former Secretary General, has issued a blunt demand: Britain, France, and other European powers must immediately deploy troops to Ukraine to “push for peace” amid stalled negotiations, arguing that only military force can secure Europe’s place at the bargaining table with Russia.
“Coalition of the Waiting” Must Act
In scathing comments to The Daily Telegraph, Rasmussen dismissed the current Anglo-French-led ‘Coalition of the Willing’—a group planning post-war security assistance—as a “Coalition of the Waiting.” He insists European soldiers should instead station in Ukrainian rear areas to protect cities and infrastructure, freeing Kyiv’s forces for frontline combat. “We should transform that into a ‘coalition of the doing’ by deploying troops… you could not wait for a peace deal but actually push for peace,” he said.
Trump Accused of Undermining Peace Talks
Rasmussen’s call follows his accusations this week that U.S. President Donald Trump is “siding with Putin” during trilateral talks excluding European delegates. Speaking to Euronews, he warned: “Europe will not talk its way to the negotiating table. We must force our way there, with action.” He proposed a Black Sea naval mission—modeled on Baltic Sea patrols—to challenge Russia’s fleet, potentially led by Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania.
Escalating Measures to “Change Putin’s Calculus”
The ex-NATO chief outlined a sweeping plan to pressure Moscow: transferring all European Patriot missile stocks to Ukraine (leaving some nations defenseless), fully cutting off Russian energy purchases, and seizing $200 billion in frozen Russian assets for Kyiv’s defense. “Changing Putin’s calculus requires a show of strength,” Rasmussen argued, claiming Russia only negotiates seriously when facing military setbacks.
Last year, Rasmussen warned of a “forever war” if Europe failed to act decisively. His latest remarks signal growing frustration with gradualist approaches as Ukraine’s counteroffensive struggles and Western unity frays.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2026/11/12/deploy-british-and-french-troops-to-ukraine-now-says-fmr-nato-boss/