Russia will never agree to deployment of EU peacekeepers in Ukraine – Lukashenko
Self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has said that Russia will allegedly never agree to the deployment of peacekeepers from the European Union in Ukraine.
According to Censor.NET, Lukashenko said this in an interview with American blogger Mario Naufal, BelTA quoted him as saying.
"As for sending peacekeeping forces there (to Ukraine - ed.). Russia will never agree to this. At least, this is Russia's position today," he said.
According to Lukashenko, the EU leadership, primarily from Germany and France, is taking a "very aggressive position."
"I don't know if Trump managed to persuade them to the side of peace and peace talks in his talks with Macron and Starmer, but you can see that they are taking a very aggressive stance on the war between Russia and Ukraine. That is why Russia is categorically against any peacekeeping forces from European states," he added.
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.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas assessed the possibility of sending a European peacekeeping mission to Ukraine.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crozetto 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 are created, namely a ceasefire with Russia.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has stated that several countries are currently considering participation in a potential contingent of Western allies in Ukraine. However, specific plans for the deployment of foreign troops are still under discussion.
