Russia says European peacekeepers in Ukraine would be viewed as “escalatory step”

He said this in a comment to the Russian propaganda agency TASS.

“Russia has a negative attitude towards European peacekeepers in Ukraine, this is an escalating step,” Grushko said.

The Russian politician also noted that the Kremlin has ruled out the role of the European Union in negotiations on a Ukrainian settlement. 

“Currently, there is nothing to indicate a possible breakthrough in relations with Europe,” he said.

According to him, if Europe wants to help establish peace in Ukraine, it should stop supplying weapons to Kyiv.

Peacekeeping forces in Ukraine: what’s known

At the end of January, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that at least 200,000 peacekeepers would be needed to ensure Ukraine’s security after the cessation of hostilities. Later, he clarified that U.S. troops should be included in the peacekeeping forces in Ukraine.

On February 11, The New York Times reported that Europe does not have 200,000 peacekeepers available to send to Ukraine — this number is nearly three times the size of the entire British army. On the same day, Zelenskyy stated that the mission could operate if 100,000–150,000 European troops were deployed.

According to The Associated Press, a group of European countries is secretly developing a plan to send troops to Ukraine. Previously, Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed that international partners were already working on the idea of a peacekeeping mission.

On February 17, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that he was ready to deploy peacekeeping forces to Ukraine.