Troop deployment to Ukraine and ceasefire - Expert explains
Photo: An expert explained how the sending of troops to Ukraine and the ceasefire are connected (Getty Images)
The potential deployment of European troops to Ukraine is closely tied to a ceasefire agreement, but several other important factors also influence this decision, according to the RBC-Ukraine article.
The format of the mission depends on the results of negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States.
"Everyone is waiting to see what kind of truce will be reached, where and how. To understand what forces are needed and where exactly there may be a need for troop withdrawals, monitoring, or other actions," said Hanna Shelest, the Director of Security Programmes at the Foreign Policy Council "Ukrainian Prism", in a comment to RBC-Ukraine.
According to Shelest, until there is an answer to this question, potential participants in the "Coalition of the Willing" are not ready to make commitments.
Additional factors of uncertainty
An additional factor of uncertainty is the position of the United States, as US support is crucial for deploying multinational forces, at least from a logistical standpoint.
Although President Zelenskyy has stated that there is an "alliance" between Europe and the US regarding security guarantees, which may include the deployment of a contingent, specifics are still scarce.
"We don’t yet know the role of the United States or what it could be, but there are options for this role. Everyone would like it to be a backstop of America (a pillar of support from America - ed.)," Zelenskyy said on March 25.
Another unknown is the duration of a possible ceasefire before a final peace agreement is signed, as a full-scale mission cannot be deployed in just a few weeks. Ultimately, this also relates to the mission's tasks and format.
In particular, the European contingent from NATO member countries, due to its limitations, could only perform a support function, which was clearly discussed.
"They (European troops - ed.) could either help us with security at sea or help close the airspace, at least over certain regions. They could also be stationed on the western border so that Ukraine could free up some forces that could then be redeployed to the north or east," Shelest told the agency.
Deployment of European troops to Ukraine
On March 27, a summit of the "Coalition of the Willing" to support Ukraine will take place in Paris.
Representatives from over 20 countries, including European Union members, as well as the United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, and Türkiye, have been invited. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will also attend.
As previously reported, President Zelenskyy arrived in Paris on March 26. He is helping French leader Emmanuel Macron prepare for the security-focused summit of the "Coalition of the Willing."
