Europe debates sending peacekeepers to Ukraine, not their numbers — French MFA

French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Christophe Lemoine told Suspilne.

He stated that European officials are discussing the possible deployment of European forces after an agreement is signed to ensure its implementation. The spokesperson explained what type of troops France is prepared to provide.

"In his speech, President Macron did not mention combat troops. He referred to forces that could be involved after a peace agreement is reached to guarantee its implementation. This is just one aspect of the guarantees needed to ensure a lasting peace," Lemoine said.

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson added that deploying European military forces to Ukraine is one approach to ensuring a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war.

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.

U.S. President Donald Trump supported the deployment of European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine but noted that the U.S. would not participate.