Europe secretly develops plans to send peacekeepers to Ukraine, AP reports
Photo: Europe is secretly developing a plan for a peacekeeping mission for Ukraine (flick com libereurope)
A group of European countries is secretly developing a plan to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine. Europe is concerned that US security priorities are focused elsewhere, according to The Associated Press.
According to the publication, the UK and France are at the forefront of efforts regarding a potential peacekeeping mission. European countries have begun to assess the forces that might be required. However, concerns have emerged that US President Donald Trump could strike a deal with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin without involving the EU.
AP reports that in December 2024, before Trump's inauguration, a group of leaders and ministers met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s headquarters in Brussels. Representatives from the UK, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Poland, as well as senior EU officials, attended the meeting.
The negotiations were based on an idea proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron at the beginning of 2024. However, it was met with criticism at the time.
The publication adds that the nature of the peacekeeping forces will depend on the conditions of the peace treaty and other factors.
"We are in a very early stage," said Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur in an interview with the Associated Press during the Munich Security Conference.
According to him, despite various discussions and rumors, it is "critical" for European allies to understand what the frontline in Ukraine will look like before developing a plan.
The Estonian minister emphasized that if Russia and Ukraine reduce their forces along the frontline to "couple of thousand" on both sides, then "it’s not a problem for Europe to also be there," but it will be much harder if there is still a "boiling conflict."
Experts and officials believe that, given the current situation in Ukraine, a stronger and larger contingent will be needed than just simple peacekeepers, like the UN's "blue helmets."
"They (the Russians - ed.) violate every single agreement. So if we send a force in there, they’ve got to have airpower, large land forces, drones, counter-drones, air and missile defense. All of that," said former US Army Commander in Europe Ben Hodges.
Peacekeepers for Ukraine
Discussions on the potential deployment of peacekeepers in Ukraine after a ceasefire have been ongoing for several months. Ukraine has discussed this matter with several countries, including France and the UK.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously stated that a million-strong army is needed to deter Russia, and the size of the foreign contingent will depend on the number of Ukrainian forces. He also mentioned during the Munich Security Conference that the peacekeeping force could consist solely of Ukrainians, but the key issue is the armament.
The head of the Pentagon recently ruled out the involvement of American troops in the peacekeeping mission. However, the US insists that Europe should send peacekeepers to Ukraine.
According to Welt, Europe believes it could provide up to 25,000 peacekeepers to Ukraine.
