London (Agencies): Britain and France are working on a plan to deploy up to 30,000 peacekeepers to Ukraine, contingent on a ceasefire agreement between Moscow and Kiev, according to The Wall Street Journal. The plan’s success hinges on persuading US President Donald Trump to commit to a limited American military role, providing critical support in air defense, logistics, and intelligence.
European officials have emphasized that without Trump’s backing, the peacekeeping plan faces significant challenges. The proposed reassurance force would primarily consist of British and French troops, focusing on safeguarding vital infrastructure, cities, and ports, rather than being positioned along the front lines with Russia. Drones and satellites would be used to monitor Russia’s compliance with a potential ceasefire.
While the UK and France have long advocated for deploying troops to Ukraine, several other EU members have been hesitant to support the idea. Ukrainian officials, including Mikhail Podoliak, an adviser to President Vladimir Zelensky, have expressed skepticism about the feasibility of deploying foreign peacekeeping forces. Zelensky has previously indicated that Ukraine could require up to 200,000 European soldiers to guarantee any peace deal with Russia.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has firmly rejected the deployment of NATO troops in Ukraine, stating that any foreign military presence would be considered a legitimate target. In November, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) warned that the West might attempt to “essentially occupy Ukraine” under the guise of deploying peacekeepers.