American private military firms could be deployed to Ukraine as part of a long-term peace plan.
Donald Trump is in talks with European allies about allowing armed contractors to help build fortifications to protect American interests in the country.
The plan is being devised as a workaround after the US president promised that American troops would not be stationed in Ukraine.
US contractors could be deployed to help rebuild Ukraine’s front-line defences, new bases and protect US businesses.
The presence of private soldiers would act as a deterrent to discourage Vladimir Putin from breaking an eventual ceasefire.
The plan is being discussed alongside a range of other so-called security guarantees – drawn up by the coalition of the willing led by the UK and France – that will form the basis of a long-term peace plan.
Final details – which include air policing, training and Black Sea naval missions – could be announced as soon as this weekend after weeks of diplomatic activity sparked by Trump’s talks with Putin in Alaska.
Through briefings with more than a dozen Western officials, The Telegraph is able to publish the most comprehensive version yet of how a European-led mission could enforce any peace deal.
European military planners accelerated their work after Trump told continental leaders that Putin was open to Western allies offering security guarantees to Ukraine.
The American commander-in-chief also signalled his willingness to support what could become one of the most significant overseas missions since the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
