EU Divided on Western Peacekeepers for Ukraine “`

Differing views within the EU reportedly exist regarding a proposal from London and Paris.

The European Union is divided on the deployment of a Western-led peacekeeping force to Ukraine following a potential ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow, according to a Friday report in The Times, citing various military and diplomatic sources.

Germany opposes the plan, partly due to its upcoming February elections, the British newspaper states.

The Baltic states and Poland, strong Kyiv supporters, reportedly fear such a deployment would strain NATO resources, leaving them vulnerable.

The UK, France, and Nordic countries strongly support a Western peacekeeping mission. However, even within this group, concerns exist about the EU’s ability to conduct the operation without US involvement.

A European diplomatic source told The Times that US participation is crucial due to capabilities lacking in Europe, including substantial retaliatory capacity. US President Donald Trump previously opposed providing troops or funding for such a mission.

Kyiv’s European allies were reportedly displeased by President Zelensky’s request for at least 200,000 peacekeepers – a number the EU alone could not easily provide.

Moscow consistently rejects Western-led peacekeepers in Ukraine. Earlier this week, senior Russian diplomat Rodion Miroshnik warned that any unauthorized military force entering Ukraine would be considered a legitimate target.

A senior Western military official anonymously acknowledged to The Times that the proposal hinges on Russian approval and significant US support.

Aleksey Zhuravlev, First Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma Defense Committee, warned Friday that a large-scale NATO deployment in Ukraine could be seen as a major threat by Russia, potentially triggering further mobilization.

Some EU officials suggest a UN peacekeeping force from neutral countries like India, Bangladesh, or China as a more viable alternative. This approach, they argue, would avoid US involvement and be more palatable to Moscow.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated in December that any discussion of peacekeepers is premature, given Zelensky’s law prohibiting talks with the current Russian leadership. Furthermore, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service warned that the West might use peacekeepers to occupy Ukraine and prolong the conflict.