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By Maya Mehrara
News Reporter
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke on the phone with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Monday about taking "practical steps" to deploy peacekeepers in Ukraine, according to his post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The idea of sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine to monitor a ceasefire has been in discussion among global leaders in recent months and has become increasingly popular as talks of peace negotiations with Russia have increased.
Newsweek reached out to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and France's Embassy in the U.K. for comment via email.
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Why It Matters
Zelensky and Macron's discussion of taking "practical steps" to deploy peacekeeping troops in Ukraine is significant because it indicates that both leaders believe a ceasefire and peace deal could be achieved sometime soon.
What To Know
In his post on X, the Ukrainian president wrote that he and Macron discussed "the situation on the battlefield and the progress of Ukrainian forces in the Kursk operation," as well as achieving peace in the region. Zelensky wrote about how France plans to aid Kyiv in achieving piece, describing "the French initiative to deploy military contingents in Ukraine." He spoke to Macron about taking "practical steps for its implementation, potential expansion, and the involvement of other nations in this effort."
The French president has been pushing for the idea of sending Western troops to Ukraine since February 2024 and said that nothing was "ruled out." Zelensky and Macron then discussed sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine during a meeting in Brussels on December 18, and the Ukrainian president wrote on Telegram that Ukraine also needs to "see that reliable guarantees are needed for peace that can actually be brought closer." He added that the French president spoke "about his communication with other partners in order to implement all necessary steps to achieve peace."
The idea of deploying peacekeeping contingents has grown in popularity as the war has escalated, and among other world leaders, including U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He is reportedly planning a visit to Ukraine to discuss this with Zelensky, according to Bloomberg. The discussions for the U.K. and France to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine are reportedly happening bilaterally, as reported by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Macron will also approach Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk about sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine after securing a potential ceasefire deal.
President-elect Donald Trump has been supportive of this idea, as in his plan to end the war in Ukraine and achieve peace; he has also pushed for European contingents to monitor a Demilitarized Zone. He reportedly reiterated this statement during a meeting with Zelensky and Macron on December 7, according to the Kyiv Independent. Moreover, Paris and London's discussions of this idea have ramped up since Trump was reelected, as France and the U.K. have stated they want to provide Ukraine with as much military aid as possible in the event that the president-elect cuts U.S. support to Kyiv after his inauguration on January 20.
What People Are Saying
Discussing sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, Sir Gavin Williamson, a former U.K. defense secretary, told U.K. newspaper The Daily Telegraph: "It's certainly something that I would support. We obviously all want to get to a situation where peace is restored in Ukraine, and it's making sure that it's only done in the interests of Ukraine. But there will be a need for underpinning that peace and the underpinning of Ukraine's security, and that will require a real, physical commitment."
In a series of posts on X, Tymofiy Mylovanov, the president of the Kyiv School of Economics, wrote: "This week, at a G7 conference I attended, some Americans dismissed Macron as a hollow suit. I disagree Foreign boots on the ground in Ukraine, I believe, are the bulwark against another war in Europe NATO, EU, or peacekeepers—whatever; as long as they are joint. It will also give confidence to Ukrainians in a peaceful future, so that Ukrainians agree to the deal. But I hope those peacekeeping troops won't run from Ukraine at the first sight of trouble as many Western embassies do. To make peacekeeping serious there should be a credible and robust structure integrating logistics, supplies, rotations with the Ukrainian Armed Forces."
What Happens Next
The "practical steps" Zelensky and Macron have outlined may be shared with other European countries who could send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, and this idea may become an integral part of peace negotiations with Russia.
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