Ukraine Needs International Troops to Ensure Real Security — Zelenskyy
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the presence of international troops on Ukrainian territory is an important element of effective security guarantees.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to Dzerkalo tyzhnia.
In response to journalists’ questions, Zelenskyy emphasized that an international military contingent would not replace the security mechanisms already proposed by partners, but would significantly strengthen them.
“I believe that the presence of international troops is a real security guarantee; it strengthens the security guarantees that our partners are already offering us,” he said.
According to Zelenskyy, such a presence would primarily create a sense of security for Ukrainian citizens, both civilians and military personnel.
He also highlighted the economic dimension of the issue, noting that international troops would send an important signal of stability and confidence to Ukrainian and foreign businesses, as well as to investors.
In addition, the president stressed that the presence of foreign troops would serve as a deterrent, reducing the risk of Russia launching another act of aggression after the active phase of the war ends.
Discussions about the involvement of foreign troops in Ukraine as part of post-war security guarantees following the signing of a peace agreement have been ongoing for several months already. Several leading European countries, including France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Turkey, have expressed political readiness to join this initiative.
According to Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the Presidential Office, the proposal envisions a joint deterrence system in which partners would be involved not only militarily, but also financially and institutionally, in order to prevent renewed Russian aggression. He added that discussions are moving into a practical phase and now focus on funding, coordination mechanisms and a unified command structure.
At the same time, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that the "Coalition of the Willing" has already developed comprehensive military plans to strengthen Ukraine’s defence, covering air, sea and land dimensions, as well as Ukraine’s own defence capabilities.
As The Gaze reported earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Paris will host a meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing” in early January. The upcoming meeting is expected to focus on defining the specific contributions of each participating country to securing long-standig peace in Ukraine.
Read more on The Gaze: What Could Security Guarantees for Ukraine Look Like?