Discussions about sending peacekeeping forces to Ukraine are gaining momentum in political circles in London and Paris. According to the British newspaper The Telegraph , French President Emmanuel Macron is actively promoting the idea and has already raised the issue in conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and British leader Keir Starmer.
Although Paris has shown its willingness to support a peacekeeping mission, London has not yet reached a final decision. The main concerns of British officials are related to the possible risk to the military, as well as whether this would be a step towards escalating the conflict.
Talks about a peacekeeping mission have intensified amid statements by Donald Trump, who, according to the publication, intends to achieve a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia in the first six months of his presidency if he returns to power. In the UK, ministers and officials are discussing possible scenarios for a post-war settlement, one of which is the introduction of peacekeeping forces to guarantee the conditions of peace.
However, the question of funding such a mission is questionable. The UK will have to look for additional resources, as the deployment of thousands of soldiers would put significant pressure on the country's defense budget.
Sending peacekeepers could be seen by Russia as an act of escalation, especially if the mission is deployed without Moscow's approval. In addition, London is considering establishing a no-fly zone over Ukrainian territory, which again raises the issue of potential confrontation with Russia.
As of now, the decision to deploy peacekeeping forces to Ukraine is still under discussion. However, this scenario indicates the willingness of European countries and their allies to seek new formats of support for Ukraine, given the difficult political and military situation.
In any case, further steps will depend on the development of the war, the US position, and the willingness of Western powers to make new commitments.
