Can a peacekeeping force help Ukraine – and what’s the catch?

Military and political observer Oleksandr Kovalenko shared his opinions, published by Obozrevatel.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed the need for a 100,000-strong peacekeeping force in Ukraine, but no country, including the U.S., has committed to sending such a contingent. At the same time, few are asking what the actual purpose and functionality of peacekeepers would be.

“Modern history shows that no frozen conflict with peacekeepers has led to a resolution, but rather, it often worsened the issue. In my view, any peacekeeping mission is an attempt to not heal the problem with antibiotics, but to prolong the patient's suffering with chamomile tea, inevitably leading to a crisis,” stated Kovalenko.

Challenges for UN peacekeeping forces

Currently, the frontline in Ukraine spans over 1,200 km, the longest demarcation line faced by UN peacekeeping forces. The first challenge for these troops will be the lack of comprehensive control across the entire frontline.

According to Zelenskyy, there is already a map outlining future peacekeeping force placements. Based on his previous comments, it involves deploying 100,000 peacekeepers along the frontline, which roughly translates to 83 peacekeepers per kilometer. This is a rough estimate, but including the Russian contingent, we get 565 personnel per kilometer. Battalions controlled by a company is a questionable approach.

The role of peacekeepers

Since the 2015 Minsk agreements, Russia has never upheld the ceasefire. Who ensures its enforcement now? No peacekeeping force can protect Ukrainian land and citizens or uphold agreements more effectively than the Ukrainian army. Even now, some partner countries supporting Ukraine are doubtful about the peacekeeper decision.

Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock sees discussions on peacekeepers in Ukraine as premature, stressing no troops will be sent during the active conflict. The U.S. may send peacekeepers only if its assets are protected, but Kyiv rejected a U.S. proposal on rare-earth metals, leaving little hope for a U.S. peacekeeping mission without a compromise.

“Peacekeepers won't be able to solve tasks that only the Ukrainian Armed Forces can handle. However, the peacekeeping contingent will be a burden and a hindrance, potentially leading to losses - both in Ukrainian territories and in the lives of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians,” concluded Kovalenko.