London:
After the US aid stopped, the Ukrainian army is finding itself helpless in front of Russia in the war. The supply of all weapons, missiles, and air defense systems has stopped. Intelligence inputs from the US have also stopped coming. In such a situation, the rest of the European countries have joined hands to protect Ukraine. Europe and the UK may soon deploy a large fleet of 120 fighter jets to protect the Ukrainian airspace from Russian missiles. This defense plan has been named 'Operation Sky Shield'. It will include the European Air Force and the UK's Royal Air Force (RAF).
What is 'Operation Sky Shield'?
Under this mission, an 'Integrated Air Protection Zone' (IAPZ) will be created. It will be separate from NATO and will be operated by Europe's top pilots. Its main objective is to prevent Russia's cruise missile strikes and drone attacks. This air protection zone will protect Ukraine's three operating nuclear power plants and critical infrastructure in the western region, which will include cities like Odessa and Lviv. However, the eastern part of Ukraine will not be included so that there is no direct confrontation with Russia, which could increase the crisis at the global level.
'More Effective Than 10,000 Ground Troops'
According to a report by 'The Guardian', the impact of this plan can be far greater than 10,000 European soldiers. When the war started in 2022, Britain's former RAF pilots and military experts drafted this plan in collaboration with Ukraine, but it did not get the green signal. Now, when the US is withdrawing from supporting Ukraine, there is talk of restarting Operation Sky Shield.
Trump's Impact on the Russia-Ukraine War
Ukraine suffered a setback after the historic meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump stopped the supply of billions of dollars worth of battle tanks, long-range missiles, and air defense systems to Ukraine. An even bigger problem is that the US has now stopped providing military intelligence to Ukraine.
Earlier, Britain used to get intelligence data from the US, which it shared with Ukraine. But now, Washington has removed the "Rel UKR" classification, due to which Britain can no longer give US intelligence data to Ukraine. Because of this, the American HIMARS and British Storm Shadow missile systems have also become ineffective. Now, Ukraine has a huge shortage of defense systems.
What Can Europe Do?
Trump has repeatedly said that the US has spent $300-350 billion on Ukraine, but the facts say something else. According to the Kiel Institute, the US has spent a total of $119.7 billion so far. At the same time, Europe spent $138.7 billion from January 2022 to December 2024, which is more than the US.
The UK is Ukraine's third-largest ally. Recently, in March 2025, the UK also signed a new loan of $2.8 billion (about £2.26 billion). France has also confirmed that it will continue to provide military intelligence to Ukraine. President Emmanuel Macron said, "We are ready to prepare a nuclear shield to protect Europe."
Can Europe Face Russia Without America?
According to former British Army officer Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, "The military strength of European NATO countries is far more than Russia alone. We need to show our power, not hesitate."
Speaking to The Sun, Dr. Bence Nemeth of the Defence Studies Department at King's College London said, "If the US abandons its role, it will be a difficult security situation for Europe. But there is another side to it. When old alliances change, new opportunities are created."
Ukraine’s Uncertain Future
At the moment, the Ukrainian army is still stationed on the battlefield, but what kind of military help they will get in the future is uncertain. Europe’s 'boots on the ground' strategy has given Ukraine some confidence, but the US's change in strategy has put Ukraine in a difficult situation.
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