Sending any peacekeepers to Ukraine now to freeze conflict in Russia's interests  – diplomat Yelchenko

Volodymyr Yelchenko, diplomat and former permanent representative of Ukraine to the UN, said this on Espreso.

“I am personally convinced that, unlike in 2015-2016, when such a peacekeeping operation could have stopped the development of the conflict, today it looks absolutely inappropriate. Because the deployment of any peacekeepers (UN, EU, and NATO) will never be allowed by Russia,” Yelchenko emphasized.

He believes that the Russian Federation will not agree to a solution that does not involve peacekeepers from ‘friendly’ countries.

“Imagine if peacekeepers from Belarus, Syria, Eritrea or Iran were stationed in Donbas or near Kherson. The deployment of peacekeepers now could lead to a freezing of the conflict, which is in the interests of the Russian Federation. Yes, fewer people will die, but this will absolutely not suit either the Ukrainian people or the leadership. This idea is out of date. Today it is unrealistic and absolutely unnecessary,” the diplomat concluded.