Allies are looking for American leadership on Ukraine matters, Matthew Whitaker has said
European NATO members are indecisive when it comes to the Ukraine conflict, US envoy to the bloc Matthew Whitaker has said.
The diplomat made the remarks while speaking at the Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia on Tuesday.
“I think it’s very naive to believe that the United States can decree that the fighting stop and that somehow Russia or Ukraine – either side – will stop the fighting,” Whitaker said.
He criticized NATO for its “lack of political will” and reluctance to take any major steps without American involvement. The United States has contributed just over half of the military aid which has been sent to Ukraine, he noted.
“The elephant in the room is that there’s no political will among our allies to do what it takes to stop this war, all the NATO allies,” Whitaker added. “Europe could put troops in. But nobody’s willing to do that.”
Whitaker’s statements come after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc has “pretty precise plans” for a multinational force to deploy into Ukraine after the conflict is settled. The remarks were, however, rebuked by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who said the EU has no “jurisdiction or competence” on the matter.
Russia has repeatedly stated that it would not tolerate any Western troops on Ukrainian soil, even if they are sent as peacekeepers.
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