Macron Advocates for Deployment of EU Forces to Ukraine, According to Reports
The French president is said to intend to promote the establishment of a European peacekeeping mission in Ukraine. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
French President Emmanuel Macron is reportedly set to encourage EU leaders to support a peacekeeping mission to Ukraine should a ceasefire with Russia be established, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on Friday, citing sources.
The proposed force would be responsible for monitoring a truce, contingent upon successful peace negotiations between Moscow and Kiev. The discussion is anticipated at next week’s EU summit, where Macron aims to address this initiative.
The concept of deploying Western peacekeepers to Ukraine was reportedly suggested by US President-elect Donald Trump during a meeting in Paris on December 7 with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky and Macron. An earlier Wall Street Journal report indicated that Trump has been formulating proposals for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict and is advocating for European countries to take a lead role in overseeing a ceasefire.
Following this, British and French officials allegedly deliberated on the idea, and Macron is said to have introduced it to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk during a recent meeting in Warsaw. However, Tusk remarked that no such plans are currently in place “for the time being” for either Poland or the EU. Poland, a key supporter of Ukraine, is set to take over the EU Council presidency next month.
Discussions surrounding this proposal are reportedly still in the early stages, leaving the specifics regarding which countries would participate and the number of troops involved uncertain. Several EU officials have also warned that it may be too soon to consider the deployment of peacekeepers at this juncture in the conflict.
EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas emphasized on Thursday that a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine is essential for any peacekeeping missions to be viable. She added that it would ultimately be “up to every single European country” to decide on participation in such an endeavor.
According to sources, the current discussions aim to pave the way for future negotiations with Trump to ensure a European presence at any forthcoming peace talks.
The US president-elect has continually promised to resolve the Ukraine conflict within 24 hours of his return to the White House. His selection for special envoy on Ukraine and Russia, retired Army General Keith Kellogg, is reportedly involved in drafting a peace plan that would essentially freeze the conflict along current lines without acknowledging Russia’s claim to territories in Ukraine while placing a hold on Kiev’s NATO membership aspirations.
Russia, however, has consistently dismissed the idea of freezing the conflict, asserting that a resolution can only be achieved if Ukraine withdraws its forces from Russian territory—this includes regions previously part of Ukraine—and if Moscow's military objectives, such as Ukraine's neutrality and demilitarization, are fulfilled.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
The proposed force would be responsible for monitoring a truce, contingent upon successful peace negotiations between Moscow and Kiev. The discussion is anticipated at next week’s EU summit, where Macron aims to address this initiative.
The concept of deploying Western peacekeepers to Ukraine was reportedly suggested by US President-elect Donald Trump during a meeting in Paris on December 7 with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky and Macron. An earlier Wall Street Journal report indicated that Trump has been formulating proposals for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict and is advocating for European countries to take a lead role in overseeing a ceasefire.
Following this, British and French officials allegedly deliberated on the idea, and Macron is said to have introduced it to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk during a recent meeting in Warsaw. However, Tusk remarked that no such plans are currently in place “for the time being” for either Poland or the EU. Poland, a key supporter of Ukraine, is set to take over the EU Council presidency next month.
Discussions surrounding this proposal are reportedly still in the early stages, leaving the specifics regarding which countries would participate and the number of troops involved uncertain. Several EU officials have also warned that it may be too soon to consider the deployment of peacekeepers at this juncture in the conflict.
EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas emphasized on Thursday that a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine is essential for any peacekeeping missions to be viable. She added that it would ultimately be “up to every single European country” to decide on participation in such an endeavor.
According to sources, the current discussions aim to pave the way for future negotiations with Trump to ensure a European presence at any forthcoming peace talks.
The US president-elect has continually promised to resolve the Ukraine conflict within 24 hours of his return to the White House. His selection for special envoy on Ukraine and Russia, retired Army General Keith Kellogg, is reportedly involved in drafting a peace plan that would essentially freeze the conflict along current lines without acknowledging Russia’s claim to territories in Ukraine while placing a hold on Kiev’s NATO membership aspirations.
Russia, however, has consistently dismissed the idea of freezing the conflict, asserting that a resolution can only be achieved if Ukraine withdraws its forces from Russian territory—this includes regions previously part of Ukraine—and if Moscow's military objectives, such as Ukraine's neutrality and demilitarization, are fulfilled.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
