Russia has rejected the idea of NATO countries sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire in the war with Russia, saying such a move would threaten to cause an “uncontrollable escalation”.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the idea was totally unacceptable to Russia.
At a press briefing, she referred to recent statements by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius about the possibility their countries might contribute troops to a peacekeeping force in Ukraine.
Pistorius said in a January 18 newspaper interview that Germany, as the largest NATO partner in Europe, would “obviously have a role to play”, and the matter would be discussed in due course.
Starmer said on January 16 that Britain had been discussing the idea of a peacekeeping force with other allies, and that “we will play our full part”.
Russia says it is open to a dialogue with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has said he intends to bring a swift end to the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is seeking a meeting with Trump, said on Tuesday that at least 2,00,000 European peacekeepers would be needed to prevent a new Russian attack after any ceasefire deal.
The foreign ministry said that Kyiv’s talks with its allies on a possible foreign troop contingent in Ukraine that would act as a security guarantee are only in the early stages and have not focused on specific numbers.
Zelenskyy said that he clarified that the number would depend on the size of Ukraine’s military, which he has said Kyiv does not want to cut as a part of any deal. The armed forces of Ukraine currently number around 8,00,000 personnel.
Both warring sides sought to improve their positions as U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House. Russia says it is open to a dialogue with Trump, who has said he intends to bring a swift end to the war.
Team Bharatshakti
(With inputs from Reuters)
