Zelenskyy on deploying peacekeepers: One of the best instruments to force Russia to peace
Photo: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukraine is looking for as many tools as possible to force Russia to peace. The initiative to bring in Western troops is one of the best, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.
Zelenskyy recalled that last year France came up with the idea of deploying contingents in Ukraine.
“We all understand – as for today, Putin’s (Vladimir Putin, Russian President - ed.) aims remain unchanged. He wants to totally destroy Ukraine – and to break all of us and you too. That’s why our goal to find as many instruments as possible to force Russia to peace. I believe that such deployment of partners’ contingents is one of the best instruments,” the president said.
Zelenskyy called on partners to be more practical and implement the French initiative. He also added that he had heard a signal of support in this matter from the UK.
“We must be brave, and we must propose truly strong instruments,” he added.
Sending foreign troops to Ukraine
Discussions on the possible deployment of military contingents from Western countries in Ukraine continue. French President Emmanuel Macron initiated this topic, but his statement only sparked a debate among the countries that support Ukraine.
Nevertheless, some countries have already expressed their willingness to consider this option. Among them are Latvia, Canada, Estonia, and Lithuania.
Italy said that its military would be able to join such a mission only after the end of hostilities in Ukraine, emphasizing providing reliable security assurances for Kyiv.
Reuters reported how many troops the West might send.
