Key points
- Russia said such a step can lead to “uncontrollable escalation”
- UK PM Starmer said his country is discussing the idea with allies
- Russia is ready to engage in talks with US over Ukraine
- Zelensky urged European leaders to do more to defend continent
ISLAMABAD: On Thursday, Russia rejected the new policy of NATO countries sending troops as peacekeepers to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire in the conflict with Russia, saying such a move would threaten to lead to an “uncontrollable escalation”.
According to Reuters, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the idea was unacceptable to Russia.
She, at a press briefing, referred to recent statements by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius about the possibility of sending troops of peacekeepers to Ukraine.
UK-Germany role
Pistorius said in a January 18 newspaper interview that Germany, as the largest NATO partner in Europe, would “obviously have a role to play”, and the matter would be discussed in due course.
Starmer said on Jan. 16 that Britain had been deliberating the idea of a peacekeeping force with other allies, and that “we will play our full part”.
Russia says it is open to a talk with U.S. President Donald Trump, who said he wants to bring a quick end to the war.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky seeks a meeting with Trump. He said on Tuesday that at least 200,000 European or NATO peacekeepers would be required to stop a new attack by Russia in the backdrop of any ceasefire deal.
Ukrainian leader
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Ukrainian leader also urged European leaders to do more to defend the continent.
The hope of a fast settlement has focused minds in Kyiv and Europe on the immediate need for security guarantees to stop any possible Russian attack, with the idea of a peacekeeping contingent force circulating.
“From all the Europeans? 200,000, it’s a minimum. It’s a minimum, otherwise, it’s nothing,” Zelensky said when asked about the idea of a peacekeeping mission in an interview panel after delivering his speech.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine would not accept Russian demands that it drastically reduces the size of its military, suggesting that Russian President Vladimir Putin would ask Ukraine to cut its armed forces to a fifth of their size.