Ukraine will need at least 200,000 peacekeepers to ensure security after ceasefire - Zelenskyy

Reuters reported the information.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy urged European leaders to do more to protect the continent. 

"From all the Europeans? 200,000 is a minimum. It's a minimum, otherwise it’s nothing," said Zelenskyy.

This number is roughly equivalent to the size of the entire French armed forces, which, according to the French Ministry of Defense, totaled just over 200,000 personnel in 2020.

Zelenskyy stated that at least this number would be necessary as a security guarantee if Russia's forces numbered 1.5 million soldiers, while Ukraine had only half of that number.

The president also added that such forces would be only part of the security guarantees Ukraine needs.

• Earlier, retired U.S. Admiral and former commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Europe, James Stavridis, shared his vision for resolving the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict, which could take place with the assistance of Donald Trump. According to him, in the event of an agreement with Russia, European peacekeepers could be involved instead of American ones.
• German Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz believes that for his country to participate in a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, an international mandate and Russia's consent are required.