EU hesitant on sending peacekeepers to Ukraine without US involvement

A majority of European Union (EU) countries are hesitant to send peacekeepers to Ukraine without the involvement of the United States.

A senior Brussels official, who requested anonymity, indicated that while EU member states are committed to continuing military support for Ukraine, they are cautious about taking further steps without US participation, Caliber.Az reports citing Spanish media.

"The message from most member states is that military support for Ukraine should continue. The next step is security guarantees and considering what the EU can contribute," the official stated.

The official emphasized the need to bolster Ukraine's military readiness in case of further attacks, but cautioned that discussions on sending peacekeeping troops are premature, as a ceasefire has not yet been achieved. The official also acknowledged that some EU nations have expressed a willingness to deploy troops to Ukraine, though the feasibility and timing of such a move remain uncertain.

According to Bloomberg, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are preparing to present a new initiative to US President Donald Trump. This initiative, called the Europe Plus group, will consist of countries willing to provide Ukraine with long-term military support, likely following the conclusion of a peace agreement. The support would include the potential deployment of peacekeeping forces to Ukraine.

In response, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko expressed Moscow's strong opposition to the idea of European peacekeepers being deployed to Ukraine. He stated that this would only contribute to escalating the situation.

In late February, reports surfaced suggesting that the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) might deploy a peacekeeping contingent to Ukraine. The OSCE, which includes 57 member states such as Germany, France, the USA, and Russia, is considering the possibility.

However, the idea of sending peacekeepers to Ukraine has already faced criticism, particularly from the Italian government.

By Vafa Guliyeva