BRUSSELS, August 20. /TASS/. NATO members are deeply divided over the mandate of deterrent forces they might try to deploy to Ukraine as part of possible "security guarantees" in the event of a cessation of hostilities, and without Ukraine joining NATO, a Brussels think-tank source told TASS.
NATO’s Military Committee, the alliance’s top military authority, held an unscheduled video conference with the chiefs of general staff on Wednesday to discuss Ukraine; no agenda details were released.
"There are serious disagreements about the limits of authority for the troops that could be sent to Ukraine and where they would be stationed. What exactly should they do if they come under fire - evacuate immediately or engage in hostilities?" the source said.
"There is a big difference between political statements about readiness to deploy 5,000 or 10,000 soldiers and the real risk of their return in coffins, not to mention the threat of escalation of the war between Russia and NATO, which could spill into a nuclear conflict," the source added. This topic is now at the center of discussions among European capitals about Ukraine’s security guarantees.
The source noted that intensive debate over the deterrent force’s mandate does not mean such forces will be created or deployed in Ukraine; it merely helps Europeans understand the real limits of their capabilities. He recalled that the issue of a force’s mandate was central during the formation of limited NATO contingents for the Afghanistan operation (2001-2021).
"Many coalition members sought to minimize risks for their troops by sending technical, logistic, and support units to Afghanistan, located away from active combat zones. Yet in Afghanistan the primary combat role was played by the US military, which is not planning to participate in efforts in Ukraine," he said.