The US refuses to provide air defense systems for the “deterrence forces” in post-war Ukraine

The United States will not deploy its air defense systems to support the “deterrence forces” that the United Kingdom and France plan to deploy in post-war Ukraine.

Bloomberg reported on this, citing sources familiar with the matter.

European allies have concluded during talks with their American counterparts that President Donald Trump will not provide the guarantees they sought to support the European-led “coalition of the willing.”

The unwillingness of the United States to provide the support sought by its European partners reflects the differences among Western allies over how to counter Russian aggression in Ukraine. European officials have argued that U.S. guarantees are necessary, along with strong Ukrainian forces backed by training and allied troops, to deter Russia.

“U.S. security guarantees are the only way to effectively deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated this February.

Bloomberg previously reported that the UK and France have been trying to convince Trump to use American air power, as well as support for border surveillance and intelligence.

According to the sources, despite lowered expectations, Britain and France still hope that their American partners will continue to provide intelligence and monitor the Russian-Ukrainian border.

European governments have adjusted their assessment and now believe that the combination of Ukrainian forces, allied training, European troops and aircraft deployed on NATO’s eastern flank, and patrols in the Black Sea is sufficient.

The United Kingdom and France have already finalized the location and modus operandi of the force, but have postponed the plan indefinitely until ceasefire talks resume.

At the same time, some European officials also hope that Trump will intervene if British and French troops are targeted by Russia in Ukraine, but believe that he is unlikely to provide such a guarantee in writing, one source said.

As Bloomberg reported in April, fifteen of the 30 coalition members, including non-European countries such as Canada, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand, have offered their forces, including aircraft, warships, and other military equipment.

Militarnyi previously reported that the US Department of Defense redirected some of the air defense equipment manufactured for Ukraine to its Air Force units in the Middle East.