Deployment of troops to Ukraine: Canadian PM responds on sending peacekeepers
Photo: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (Getty Images)
Canada cannot currently say for certain whether it will send its troops to Ukraine after the war with Russia ends, as the structure of such a deployment needs to be determined, states Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during an event of the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, according to Ukrinform.
Carney said that there was still much to be done in Ukraine before killings could be stopped and security guarantees could take effect, but based on past experience, it was already clear — and the US recognized this — that security guarantees signed by Putin were worth nothing.
The Prime Minister emphasized that Canada is currently providing very active support to Ukraine within the framework of the Coalition of the Willing.
Carney replied that it remained to be seen what the structure would be for the potential deployment of Canadian peacekeepers in Ukraine.
He also added that hundreds of Canadian servicemembers are currently in Latvia as part of the operation, ready to defend NATO’s eastern flank.
Deployment of troops to Ukraine
In August, the Coalition of the Willing announced its readiness to deploy deterrent forces to Ukraine. Following a meeting at the White House, around 10 countries agreed to send troops to Ukraine. The coalition also plans to send its military planners to the US for consultations.
Germany has stated that it does not rule out the possibility of deploying its military contingent to Ukraine, while the United Kingdom explicitly emphasized its readiness to send troops within the first week after a potential peace agreement or ceasefire with Russia comes into effect.
Estonia is prepared to deploy a peacekeeping contingent to Ukraine consisting of one company.
Belgium is also ready to send its troops to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping mission after the war with Russia ends.
Türkiye, within the framework of security guarantees, also allows for the deployment of its troops to Ukraine.
At the same time, Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that Poland will not send troops to Ukraine.
Greek government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis also said that Greece "will assist in such matters, but not with troops."
Latvian President Egils Rinkēvičs said it is premature to discuss sending troops to Ukraine. According to him, a peace agreement must first be concluded, outlining the main elements of the deal, the security guarantees, and the role of European countries.
Italy, Poland, and Romania have no plans to send troops to Ukraine, even under security guarantees following a possible ceasefire.
At the same time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants to see a military contingent from "major powers" in Ukraine.
According to him, there are both expected and very unexpected countries ready to send their troops to Ukraine.
