Anders Fogh Rasmussen, a former Nato secretary general, proposed a coalition of European countries to defend the continent, including Ukraine, during a seminar on European defense on Monday. He stated that the proposed force would be led by France and the UK.

Rasmussen, who has acted as a close adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, detailed his proposal: "I would propose a coalition of the willing in which a number of European countries come together that are capable and willing to do what is needed to defend the continent, including Ukraine. The force would be led by the two nuclear powers in Europe, France and the UK." He also specifically stated that Ukraine must be an integrated part of a new European security architecture.

Rasmussen characterized Ukraine as a country that can contribute to European security. He said, "However this conflict ends, we still have an aggressive Russia and we need Ukraine as a bulwark against that aggressive Russia. And Ukraine today is militarily the strongest nation in Europe. It's battle tested, battle hardened." He further elaborated, "Usually we look at Ukraine as a country that needs our help. That is still right, but more and more we should look at Ukraine as an asset, a country that can actually contribute to European security. And that's why I think we should strengthen the European pillar within Nato based on a coalition of the willing, including Ukraine."

Rasmussen stated that European leaders detected a change in Donald Trump's attitude to the war in Ukraine at the G7 summit in Evian. He added that the American attitude has changed permanently. "I think we should stop just reacting to what we think Trump might say or do. Time has come now to make our own decisions without taking into account how Trump would react. It's wishful thinking to believe that after Trump, the situation might return to business as usual. It won't. The world has changed. The American attitude has changed," Rasmussen said.

The former Nato secretary general suggested the Iran-US conflict, in which Russia showed support for Iran, may have stimulated new thinking about Russia in the White House. He said indications suggest Ukraine will be given licenses to manufacture US-designed weapons, including interceptor and long-range missiles, inside Ukraine. Rasmussen cautioned against the EU moving prematurely to appoint its own negotiator with Russia, stating, "Before even thinking about appointing someone to negotiate on behalf of Europe, we should ensure that he or she will negotiate from position of strength."

Rasmussen attributed Ukraine's battlefield progress to Ukrainian innovation in developing hi-tech military capabilities, mainly drones. He noted, "We spent too many months discussing the delivery of battle tanks, fighter jets, everything. But gradually we have stepped up. But first and foremost, the Ukrainians themselves have been very innovative in developing hi-tech military capabilities, mainly drones and other kinds of hi-tech military stuff."