European countries may discuss the possibility of sending peacekeeping contingents to Ukraine due to reports of possible military assistance to Russia from North Korea. This initiative was put forward by Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis. He believes that if the information about the supply of ammunition and military personnel to the DPRK is confirmed, this will require decisive action from Ukraine's allies, including the deployment of European troops on Ukrainian territory.
Landsbergis called on Europe to stop acting passively and be ready to take active steps to help resolve the conflict. However, according to an anonymous conservative EU MP, discussing sending peacekeepers is possible only after the war is over, as European countries do not want to allow the conflict to escalate.
The idea of sending troops was also raised by French President Emmanuel Macron in February 2024, but was quickly rejected by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who said that NATO and European countries would not send ground troops to Ukraine.
Western countries are alarmed by reports of North Korean troops possibly joining the war on Russia's side. While US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte have refused to confirm the rumors, Ukraine and South Korea have reported that as many as 12,000 North Korean soldiers may already be in Russia. If confirmed, the conflict would escalate to a new level.
