French President Emmanuel Macron has announced the possibility of deploying peacekeeping troops to Kyiv, Odesa, and Lviv as part of a strategy to support Ukraine.
The French president has also insisted on putting “pressure” on Russia to accept the truce in Ukraine. Macron made this statement in an interview with the regional daily press, including Le Parisien. Emmanuel Macron has also urged French weapon manufacturers to produce more.
The French president spoke with the media ahead of the virtual summit with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London on Saturday, March 15, bringing together countries ready to commit themselves to guaranteeing future peace in Ukraine.
European peacekeepers deployment in Ukraine
Macron emphasized that this scenario of the European peacekeepers deployment in Ukraine is part of a broader strategy to support Ukraine in its fight against the Russian military aggression.
French President Emmanuel Macron said that the Franco-British plan for peacekeeping troops in Ukraine has attracted interest not only from European states but also from countries outside the continent.
According to Macron, the European allies could potentially deploy their contingents in Kyiv, Odesa, and Lviv. It would involve only a limited presence to coordinate training programs and support the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
“The goal is not to assemble a large number of troops, as the largest European army today is the Ukrainian army, with one million troops. It is about deploying a few thousand troops in key locations to implement training programs and demonstrate long-term support. The military scenarios consider such centers as Kyiv, Odesa, and Lviv,” Macron said.
According to the French leader, the initiative of Paris and London has found support in several EU countries that are considering joining this peacekeeping mission.
More pressure on Russia
The French president also sent a clear message to the Kremlin, saying that Moscow has no right to dictate terms to Ukraine’s allies regarding the presence of peacekeeping forces.
“Ukraine is a sovereign state, and if it invites allied troops to its territory, it is not Russia’s business to decide whether to accept or not,” Macron emphasized.
This statement comes amid recent threats from the Kremlin, which traditionally has been opposed to any steps to increase international military support for Ukraine and to deploy international peacekeepers on Ukrainian territory as a guarantee that Russia will not attempt another full-scale invasion some time after a potential peace agreement is signed.
