Former US commander of forces in Europe, Ben Hodges, has advocated for substantial security commitments to Ukraine, including the potential deployment of thousands of Western troops. In remarks to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, Hodges stated that without a significant on-the-ground presence with clear mandates and rules of engagement, security guarantees would lack credibility.
Hodges emphasized the necessity for these troops to possess demonstrable capabilities that Russia would recognize and respect, specifically highlighting the need for the ability to respond to provocations like missile or drone attacks. He argued that a visible force equipped with air defense systems, long-range weaponry and artillery, fully integrated into Ukraine’s defense structures and operating under robust rules of engagement, would serve as a genuine deterrent to further Russian aggression.
Acknowledging Russian President Vladimir Putin’s repeated statements against the presence of Western troops near its borders, Hodges also expressed reservations about the sincerity of current security assurances. He questioned whether the United States is fully committed to providing meaningful security guarantees to Ukraine, citing a lack of concrete commitments from former President Donald Trump. Hodges noted the numerous announcements made by Trump over the past six months with limited follow-through and he interpreted the recent travel of numerous European leaders to Washington specifically to address these concerns as an indication of significant distrust and deep anxieties about Europe’s potential vulnerability to Russian aggression.
