NATO chief says Ukraine security guarantees need US 'backup'

NATO chief Mark Rutte said Thursday that any European security guarantees for Ukraine under a potential peace deal with Russia would need to be backed up by the United States.

"Strong security guarantees, if provided by European countries, need a backup by the United States, not with boots on the ground, but we still need generally a backup from the US to make sure that the deterrence is there," Rutte said on a visit to Slovakia.

Kyiv's European backers are scrambling to come up with a plan after US President Donald Trump undercut Washington's allies by launching efforts with Moscow to end the war.

Britain has said it could deploy troops to Ukraine if needed to ensure any peace is lasting -- but insists the US would need to provide a "backstop".

UK media reported that Britain and France were working on a proposal to send a 30,000-strong "reassurance force" to Ukraine, if Washington committed to providing air cover based in a neighbouring country.

Rutte did not give any details on the plans being drawn up but he said that the United States has "certain capabilities... necessary to make it possible for European countries to help."

Ukraine insists that it needs guarantees under any deal that would ensure Russia would not be able to rearm and attack again.