Presence of EU peacekeepers in Ukrainian territory would mean NATO presence, - Lavrov
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has commented on the possibility of deploying EU peacekeepers in Ukrainian territory.
According to Censor.NET, he was quoted by Russian media.
"For Russia, the presence of EU peacekeeping forces in Ukraine would mean the same as the presence of NATO," the occupying country's foreign minister 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 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 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.
