Ukraine needs at least 200,000 peacekeepers - Zelenskyy
At least 200,000 European peacekeepers will need to be deployed in Ukraine to prevent a new Russian attack after a ceasefire agreement is reached.
This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the World Economic Forum in Davos, DW reports, Censor.NET informs.
When asked about the idea of deploying a peacekeeping contingent in Ukraine after the war, Zelenskyy said that at least 200,000 European peacekeepers would be needed to prevent a new Russian attack after a ceasefire agreement is reached.
"From all Europeans? 200 thousand is the minimum. This is the minimum, otherwise it is nothing," the head of state said.
The President noted that such forces would be only part of the security guarantees Ukraine needs.
Zelenskyy also said that Russian dictator Putin could demand that the Ukrainian army be reduced fivefold during potential negotiations. According to Zelenskyy, "reducing the Ukrainian army many times over" will be one of the important issues in the likely peace talks.
He stressed, however, that Kyiv would not allow these demands to be conceded.
"This is what he wants. We will not allow this to happen," Zelenskyy said.
Peacekeeping forces in Ukraine
Earlier, it was reported that French President Emmanuel Macron would discuss with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk the deployment of peacekeeping forces in Ukraine if an agreement is reached to end the current phase of the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk denied that Polish troops would be sent to Ukraine after the ceasefire.
The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, assessed the possibility of sending a European peacekeeping mission to Ukraine.
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto expressed his readiness to support a peacekeeping mission to Ukraine if peace is achieved.
In turn, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called these discussions "premature".
Germany, together with its partners, will consider the possible deployment of peacekeepers in Ukraine as part of "security guarantees" only after the conditions for this are created, namely a ceasefire with Russia.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has stated that several countries are currently considering participation in a potential Western allied contingent in Ukraine. However, specific plans for the deployment of foreign troops are still under discussion.
