Media reveal Europe's plans for peacekeepers in Ukraine
Illustrative photo: European countries may send peacekeepers to Ukraine (Getty Images)
European countries could deploy peacekeeping forces to Ukraine to monitor a ceasefire. The contingent is expected to include up to 30,000 soldiers, according to The Washington Post and The Times journalist Larisa Brown.
According to unnamed officials who spoke to The Washington Post, serious discussions about deploying peacekeepers to Ukraine have recently begun in Europe. The talks intensified after the US sent European nations a questionnaire asking what forces and equipment they could contribute to Ukraine.
Sources revealed that the latest proposal being considered in Europe involves creating an "reassurance" or "deterrence" force, comprising 25,000 to 30,000 soldiers. These troops would not be stationed on the front lines but would be prepared to respond if Russia resumes aggression.
According to The Washington Post, plans also include keeping reinforcements outside Ukraine to allow for rapid troop deployment if necessary.
Two officials noted that France has conducted more extensive planning and determined it could contribute 10,000 troops to Ukraine. However, other European allies remain more hesitant or have limited military capabilities.
Meanwhile, Larisa Brown detailed preliminary plans for peacekeeper deployment, which include:
- Deploying up to 30,000 European-led troops in key cities, ports, and critical infrastructure sites across Ukraine, but not in the east.
- Conducting technical border monitoring using reconnaissance aircraft, space-based satellites, and drones to provide a "complete picture of what's going on".
- Protecting airspace, restoring commercial flights, and the ability to "monitor and shoot those attacks down".
- The backstop would be US aircraft based in Romania and Poland, which would be ready to respond if needed, along with a significant land force positioned on NATO's eastern flank for rapid deployment.
Peacekeepers in Ukraine
Earlier, the new US government stated that it wanted European countries to provide security guarantees for Ukraine.
Yesterday, February 18, US President Donald Trump said that he was not against the idea of sending European peacekeepers to Ukraine.
For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that 100,000 foreign troops are needed to ensure security.
