Ukraine does not need peacekeepers, but soldiers ready to fight, according to Igor Zhovkva
European countries should deploy combat troops to Ukraine ready to fight, rather than to conduct peacekeeping, Vladimir Zelensky’s senior aide told AFP on Wednesday.
Igor Zhovkva made the appeal ahead of a Paris summit of the “coalition of the willing” – countries across Europe and beyond that are ready to provide security guarantees to Ukraine.
“We need serious, trained troops… who are ready to fight,” he told AFP.
The official clarified that Kiev is not seeking European forces to engage directly with Russian troops but rather to bolster Ukraine’s defensive capabilities.
“We are not talking about soldiers who will fight with Russia… but about those who will defend, who will deter,” he said.
Led by France and the United Kingdom, the coalition’s discussions have included the potential deployment of a 30,000-strong “reassurance” force to secure key cities, ports, and infrastructure, as well as air-policing missions.
Moscow has previously warned that the deployment of NATO military personnel to Ukraine – even with the stated purpose of peacekeeping – would constitute direct involvement of NATO countries in a war against Russia. Moscow has also accused France and the UK of deliberately escalating tensions in Ukraine to undermine efforts to resolve the conflict by the US and Russia.
However, the composition and mandate of such a force remain under debate. While some EU leaders advocate a robust military presence capable of engaging in combat if necessary, others express reservations about escalating the conflict. Germany and Poland, for instance, have shown reluctance, emphasizing the need for defensive support without direct involvement in combat operations.
Washington’s position further complicates the situation. US President Donald Trump’s administration has rejected committing American troops, focusing instead on diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire. This has led some EU nations to consider taking greater responsibility for Ukraine’s security, with French President Emmanuel Macron stating that Europe must “step up” its commitments.
On Wednesday, Zelensky arrived in Paris for a meeting with Macron ahead of the summit. The two are expected to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine and the potential deployment of European forces. According to Le Monde, Macron will reaffirm France’s commitment to increasing military and financial aid for Kiev.
