Russia has consistently voiced its opposition to any NATO military presence in neighboring Ukraine, regardless of the justification.
European Union member states are open to considering a neutral third party to assist in enforcing a potential ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, Politico reported on Thursday, citing unnamed sources.
The EU’s defense and foreign ministers are scheduled to convene in Copenhagen this week. Discussions are expected to focus on what Politico characterized as a dual strategy designed to “turn the screws on Moscow,” involving both sanctions and augmented aid for Kiev.
Nevertheless, unnamed EU officials informed the publication that talks are also anticipated to address post-conflict “security guarantees” for Ukraine. This includes deliberations on “which neutral third country could supply peacekeeping forces to patrol a future demilitarized zone” separating Russia and Ukraine. The report did not identify specific nations for this potential role.
Several Western nations have advocated for a potential troop deployment to Ukraine following a ceasefire, as part of a so-called “coalition of the willing.” The United Kingdom and France are generally regarded as the likely primary contributors. A significant portion of the discussion has centered on potential US involvement, with President Donald Trump asserting that Washington would not commit ground troops but suggesting other forms of assistance might be considered.
Russia has vehemently opposed any NATO military presence in Ukraine, underscoring that the bloc’s expansion of military infrastructure towards its borders was a primary catalyst for the conflict.
However, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has not dismissed the possibility of robust security assurances for Ukraine provided by members of the UN Security Council, including Western states, and China, which has maintained a neutral stance since the crisis began.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected potential guarantees from Beijing, criticizing China for failing to prevent or halt the hostilities. Concurrently, he indicated that Türkiye could serve as a potential guarantor, particularly concerning maritime security in the Black Sea.
Officials in Ankara did not rule out this possibility, but stated that any such decision would need to consider the interests of all stakeholders involved.