The EU is considering the deployment of peacekeepers to Ukraine, with Reuters revealing the potential number involved.
European nations are discussing the deployment of peacekeeping troops to Ukraine. This initiative was proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron, and the discussions are still in the early stages.
According to RBK-Ukraine, citing Reuters, European leaders emphasize that they are focused on increasing military and economic support for Ukraine. However, they see no signs of readiness from Russian dictator Vladimir Putin for negotiations.
Despite this, several European officials are still considering the possibility of sending peacekeepers to Ukraine.
As reported by Reuters, newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump has ruled out the involvement of American troops in the peacekeeping mission. Trump stated that Europeans should take on this role themselves in negotiations. This may indicate that a peacekeeping mission could occur regardless of whether Kyiv receives security guarantees through NATO membership, as it hopes, or through bilateral assurances.
"Even if there were a security guarantee from NATO, where would the momentum on the ground come from? It would be European, so our military leaders are already preparing plans that European leaders may consider in the future," a source told the publication.
According to the Reuters source, major European countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom could form the core of the forces.
How Many Troops Could Be Deployed
The publication estimates that the peacekeeping mission could be formed by a coalition of five to eight countries. However, analysts provide varying estimates of the size of these forces, as much will depend on their specific mission.
It is likely that the number will be around 40,000 military personnel. However, under a rotation scheme that also includes preparing units for deployment and recovery after deployment, around 100,000 military personnel could be involved in the mission.
Another Reuters source also stated that up to 100,000 military personnel might be necessary. Such forces could be assembled if some European countries reduce other missions.
The composition of any international forces is also being discussed. In particular, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto stated that these forces should operate under the auspices of the United Nations. However, other officials argue that this would give Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, too much influence.
Europe may also need to convince the United States that they should be involved in the process, at least through intelligence and other operational assistance.
European Peacekeepers in Ukraine
Discussions regarding the possibility of a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine continue. French President Emmanuel Macron previously suggested the idea of deploying European troops in the event of a conflict freeze.
In Italy, the Ministry of Defense and the Foreign Ministry noted that Italian troops could join the mission only after hostilities cease. They also emphasized the importance of providing Ukraine with reliable security guarantees.
Recently, Politico learned details of President Vladimir Zelensky's meeting with European leaders scheduled for December 18. One of the topics will be the peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.
Recently, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that his country is likely to play a certain role in ensuring a future agreement for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. However, it is still unclear what the peacekeeping forces might look like.