Macron to discuss deployment of European peacekeepers in Ukraine with Poland – media

French President Emmanuel Macron allegedly has an idea for a potential European peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, which could serve as a safeguard against a new Russian attack. He plans to consult with Poland, which he views as a key ally in such a project. The Polish media, Rzeczpospolita, reported on this, citing its sources.

The report claims that a peacekeeping force from European countries, which, if an agreement is signed to end the current phase of the war between Russia and Ukraine—which the new US president is expected to try to initiate—could become one of the safeguards against a new Russian attack. 

According to the newspaper, discussing such a potential mission will be a key topic of conversation for Macron during his visit to Warsaw on December 12, and he probably spoke about it with US President-elect Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last Saturday, when dozens of leaders came to the opening of the restored Notre Dame Cathedral. 

Journalists assume that Emmanuel Macron also discussed this at his one-on-one meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in mid-November and at his meeting with representatives of the Nordic countries, the Baltic states, and Poland on November 27.

Rzeczpospolita interviewed Elie Tenenbaum, an expert at the Paris-based IFRI think tank, which is developing a hypothetical project for such a mission. According to their vision, the project would require a force of up to 5 brigades (about 40,000 people), and Poland could take command of one of them, given its military potential and location. 

In his comments for the publication, former NATO Deputy Secretary General Camille Grand suggested that if it comes to a peacekeeping mission, it would be best to involve as many countries as possible, as this would increase the deterrent effect.

However, in his opinion, at least symbolic participation by the United States in the project is very important. Legrand expects the Netherlands and Germany to participate in the project after the government change.

Before that, other Polish media outlets reported about Macron’s planned visit, noting that it was connected to his talks with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump last weekend.

The meeting between French and Ukrainian Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelenskyy with US President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday, December 7, lasted 35 minutes.

After speaking with Trump and Macron, Zelenskyy said he insisted on “effective guarantees” of peace. And the US president-elect said he was “forming a concept” to implement his plan to end the war as soon as possible.

During a recent meeting in Kyiv with CDU/CSU leader Friedrich Merz, who is likely to become Germany’s future chancellor, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said for the first time that, pending NATO guarantees, just such a peacekeeping mission could ensure Ukraine’s security.