Western officials fear US troop withdrawal from Europe after likely Putin-Trump deal on Ukraine: Report
Western security officials and politicians are concerned that a potential US-Russia deal on Ukraine could lead to the withdrawal of US troops from large parts of Europe. BILD newspaper reported that Russia's 2021 demands, which include the removal of US troops from NATO countries that joined after 1990, are a key issue.
- World
- Anadolu Agency
- Published Date: 09:31 PM 19 February 2025
Western security services and politicians fear that a potential deal between the US and Russia on Ukraine could lead to an end to the presence of US troops in large parts of Europe, Germany's top-selling BILD newspaper reported Wednesday.
"According to our information, it's about (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's 2021 demands, i.e. a withdrawal of US troops from all NATO states that joined the alliance after 1990," an unnamed Eastern European security official told BILD.
According to the report, Italy is also preparing for a possible withdrawal of US troops from Kosovo. This would leave the European allies alone in the Balkans against Aleksandar Vucic and his powerful Serbian army.
This could be a scenario in what used to be a Balkan civil war zone that German diplomats described to BILD as "quite conceivable."
According to BILD, only the US bases in Ramstein, Germany, and the air bases in Great Britain are currently ruled out for an American troop pullout.
American President Donald Trump has ruled out a complete withdrawal of US troops from Europe.
- 86-year-old US man who shot Black teen dies before sentencing
- ‘Palestine is not for sale’: Abbas reiterates rejection of Trump's Gaza displacement plan
- Vatican says Pope Francis is in 'stable' condition
- British premier backs Zelenskyy after Trump's ‘dictator’ comment, says wartime election suspension 'reasonable'
- Yoon to become South Korea's first sitting president to go on criminal trial