Zelenskyy signals openness to foreign troops in Ukraine providing security for end to war
With a focus on peace and NATO membership, President Zelenskyy weighs the idea of foreign troops for security until the war is officially ended.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine is open to considering French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to station foreign troops on Ukrainian territory until the country gains NATO membership, according to UNIAN.
Ukraine’s aspirations for NATO membership remain a critical focus amid the war with Russia. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte recently reaffirmed that Ukraine will eventually join the Alliance, although he did not specify a timeline. He emphasized that the current priority is to support Ukraine’s military efforts and territorial recovery. However, several NATO member countries expressed reluctance to extend an invitation to Ukraine while the war persist.
Zelenskyy’s claims came on 9 December during a meeting in Kyiv with Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union. The Ukrainian president noted that in Paris, he inquired Trump and Macron about the security guarantees Ukraine could expect until it becomes a NATO member.
“During that period, what are our security guarantees? I’ll be frank: we can consider and work on Emmanuel Macron’s proposal. He suggested deploying troops from specific countries to certain areas of Ukraine to ensure our security until the country is part of NATO.
However, we need a clear understanding of when Ukraine will join the EU and NATO to solidify our future,” Zelenskyy emphasized.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, who also came to Kyiv on a working visit on 9 December, commented on the matter. He proposed that Europe could send troops to Ukraine following a peace agreement brokered by US President-elect Trump. He stated that NATO membership remains the best security guarantee for Ukraine, as advocated by Zelenskyy.
Tsahkna added that if the US opposes Kyiv’s NATO membership, Europe must take measures to deter further Russian aggression, including deploying troops to Ukraine after active hostilities cease.
Read more:
- Zelenskyy claims Europe’s air defense systems “just standing there” instead of helping Ukraine from Russian attacks
- Fire breaks out in residential complex in Odesa after Russian drone attack
- Pentagon to send 500 interceptor missiles to Ukraine for NASAMS, Patriot air defense systems
You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.
We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society.
A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support.
