Ukraine’s Military to Reduce Forces to 800,000 Amid Security Guarantees
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, American and European officials have approved documents in Berlin to provide security guarantees for Kyiv, according to a report in the New York Times.
The documents prioritize reducing the size of the Ukrainian armed forces from 900,000 to 800,000 personnel, the New York Times reports.
The New York Times also indicated that a European-led military force will be stationed in western Ukraine, distanced from the border with Russia. While details regarding the participating countries remain unspecified, several nations have privately committed to contributing to this mission.
The United States has reportedly ruled out deploying its own troops to Ukraine, opting instead to utilize its intelligence capabilities to monitor any potential ceasefires, the American media outlet added.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated on December 15 that European countries and the United States are prepared to offer security guarantees to Ukraine akin to Article 5 of NATO. The Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. officials, reported that Washington supports Europe’s security assurances.
Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), signed in Washington in 1949, guarantees the collective security of its members, obligating all allies to respond to any armed attack against one of them.
