Zelenskiy says peace deal with Russia would require 200,000 peacekeepers
- 22 January, 11:52
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said that 200,000-strong peacekeeping contingent would be required to ensure Ukraine’s security after the signing of a potential ceasefire deal with Russia. Zelenskiy made the remarks on Tuesday during the World Economic Forum in Davos while sharing his thoughts on what it would take to reach a peace deal with Russia.
“200,000, it’s a minimum. It’s a minimum, otherwise it’s nothing,” Zelenskiy said in response to a question about the possibility of deploying a peacekeeping contingent to Ukraine after the war with Russia ends.
Zelenskiy emphasized that ensuring the security of Ukraine and Europe after a possible peace deal would require reliable guarantees, with a significant peacekeeping contingent playing a key role.
“If we were able to build an army of over 800,000, then together with Europe, we have the strength not only to defend ourselves but also to repel Putin,” Zelensky said, stressing that Kyiv would not yield to demands to reduce its armed forces. “This is exactly what he wants. We will not let it happen,” the Ukrainian leader said.
Zelenskiy’s remarks come after inauguration of US President Donald Trump who has pledged to quickly conclude the war in Ukraine. However, Trump has not presented any detailed plan to end the three-years-old war. Zelenskiy suggested that such a deal would likely require European peacekeepers to maintain stability.
