U.S. questions for European governments on Ukraine security

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(Reuters) – The United States has sent European governments a set of questions about what they would need from the U.S. in order to provide Ukraine with security guarantees.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson said that Washington “has been clear that we expect European partners to take the lead in establishing a durable security framework and look forward to their proposals.”

Here are the questions sent by the U.S. according to a document seen by Reuters.

1) What do you view as a Europe-backed security guarantee or assurance that would serve as a sufficient deterrent to Russia while also ensuring this conflict ends with an enduring peace settlement?

2) Which European and/or third countries do you believe could or would participate in such an arrangement?

Are there any countries you believe would be indispensable?

Would your country be willing to deploy its troops to Ukraine as part of a peace settlement?

3) If third country military forces were to be deployed to Ukraine as part of a peace arrangement, what would you consider to be the necessary size of such a European-led force?

How and where would these forces be deployed and for how long?

4) What actions do U.S., allies and partners need to be prepared to take if Russia attacks these forces?

5) What, if any, U.S. support requirements would your government consider necessary for its participation in these security arrangements?

Specifically, which short-term and long-term resources do you think will be required from the U.S.?

6) What additional capabilities, equipment and maintenance sustainment options is your government prepared to provide to Ukraine to improve its negotiating hand and increase pressure on Russia?

What more is your government prepared to do to increase its sanctions on Russia, including more strictly enforcing sanctions and better targeting third countries enabling Russia globally?

(Reporting by John Irish)