Ukraine’s Zelensky says foreign peacekeepers idea could be raised in Brussels on Wednesday
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (right) and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk giving a press briefing after a meeting in Lviv, Ukraine, on Dec 17.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
LVIV, Ukraine - The possible deployment of foreign peacekeeping troops in Ukraine could be raised at a meeting of European leaders in Brussels on Dec 18, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Dec 17.
The meeting to discuss support for Ukraine, almost three years after Russia's full-scale invasion, will gather the leaders of Germany, France, Poland and Nato, among others, according to sources.
The Ukrainian leader publicly floated the idea of foreign troops being deployed until Ukraine could join Nato during a meeting with a German politician on Dec 9.
The possibility was first raised by French President Emmanuel Macron in February but no consensus was reached among European leaders on the matter.
Answering questions from reporters about it potentially being discussed in Brussels, Mr Zelensky said that "everyone who will be there has the right to raise this or that issue".
"There could be questions not only about the (foreign) contingent, but also questions that Ukraine will raise," he told a joint press conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Lviv.
Mr Zelensky said the urgent strengthening of Ukraine would be the main thing to discuss. He mentioned long-range defence capabilities, allied investment in Ukrainian weapons production and security guarantees among other topics.
The meeting comes at a crucial point as Ukraine urges its allies to bolster it both on the battlefield and diplomatically before any potential talks with Russia.
US President-elect Donald Trump, who returns to White House in January, has repeatedly called for a ceasefire and said Mr Zelensky should be prepared to make a deal to end the war.
Mr Tusk reiterated that Poland was not considering sending troops but said his country, one of Ukraine's staunchest supporters, would do everything in its power to make Kyiv's Nato membership a real possibility.
"We all need to focus on ensuring that any talks on a ceasefire are not conducted from a position of strength on the Russian side, meaning that the Ukraine can be sure of the full support of all countries involved in helping Ukraine," Mr Tusk said. REUTERS
