Zelenskyy: Ukraine is ready for peacekeeping without foreign troops but needs US guarantees
Photo: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (president.gov.ua)
Ukraine needs security guarantees from the United States. But the country is also ready for peacekeepers from Europe, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy answered RBC-Ukraine correspondent at the Munich Conference.
Zelenskyy was asked whether Ukraine would insist on security guarantees from the United States, to which he replied that Ukraine “really wants security guarantees from the United States.”
“When we talk about the contingent, there is a question of whether we are ready for a European contingent. I say that we are ready for a contingent consisting even exclusively of Ukrainians. The question is what kind of equipment? If we have 150-160 F-16s, 25+ Patriot systems, why do we need teams from the US or Europe? If the question is about citizenship, it is not an issue. We need the United States as an ally,” the president said.
He reminded that the allies support Ukraine politically.
“If we are talking about the contingent, I have a map, it says: 110,000 foreigners. It is desirable that these our partners, who are pros at sea (Britain, Nordic countries - ed.), if they are pros, it is desirable that they be at sea,” he said.
Peacekeepers in Ukraine
According to media reports, the deployment of European peacekeepers in Ukraine will be at the center of discussion at the Munich Security Conference, which is taking place on February 14-16.
However, this idea may be ineffective without the support of the Americans. If only European peacekeepers are sent to Ukraine, they may be attacked by Russians.
US Vice President JD Vance announced readiness to increase sanctions pressure on Russia and did not rule out the deployment of US military personnel to Ukraine.
Vance's statements contradict Pentagon chief Pete Haggett's statement on Wednesday that the United States would not send troops to Ukraine.
