Munich Conference to focus on deploying European peacekeepers to Ukraine - NYT

NYT notes that the prospect of a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia has sparked active discussions about sending European troops to Ukraine to monitor a ceasefire and deter a potential Russian reinvasion. However, there are no concrete initiatives yet, and it remains unclear whether Russian President Vladimir Putin would agree to such a move.

"It is a topic sure to be a central focus for discussion this week at the annual Munich Security Conference, which Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are scheduled to attend," the agency reports.

France, the UK, and the Baltic states have already raised the possibility of sending their peacekeepers to Ukraine. However, German officials consider the idea premature.

According to NYT, without the involvement of US troops and military equipment, European forces would face serious risks and potential attacks from Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that if Ukraine is not accepted to NATO, up to 200,000 foreign troops would be needed to ensure its security. However, analysts cited by the agency believe this number is too high, as it would be three times the size of the British army, for example.

Sir Lawrence Freedman, an emeritus professor of war studies at King’s College London, noted that a real deterrent force typically requires "over 100,000 troops assigned to the mission" to allow for regular rotations and emergency responses.

Meanwhile, a former British Ambassador to Russia Anthony Brenton emphasized that Europe's "willingness to be ready to do something useful" for Ukraine without US involvement is crucial to securing a seat at the negotiating table.

Munich Security Conference

As noted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the issue of ending Russia's war against Ukraine will be a key one during the Munich Security Conference.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to attend the conference.