Russia rejects possible deployment of European peacekeepers in Ukraine
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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow sees "no room for compromise" regarding EU discussions on deploying troops in Ukraine.
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks during a joint news conference with Zimbabwe's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Amon Murwira following their talks in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, March 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov, Pool)
Russia has ruled out any possibility of compromise regarding the potential deployment of European peacekeepers in Ukraine, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissing the idea as openly hostile. Speaking on Thursday after a meeting with Zimbabwean Foreign Minister Amon Murwira, Lavrov warned that such a move would create new conditions on the battlefield that could make any future peace efforts more difficult.
"We see no room for compromise. This discussion is being conducted with an openly hostile purpose. They are not hiding what they need it for," Lavrov said.
He stressed that any foreign military presence in Ukraine, regardless of its official purpose, would be seen as equivalent to NATO troops operating in the country. "We will consider the presence of these troops on Ukrainian territory in the same way as we considered NATO's potential presence in Ukraine," he stated.
Lavrov's comments come as French President Emmanuel Macron has taken a more assertive stance on European defense, recently calling Russia a "threat to France and Europe" in a televised address. Macron also announced plans to open discussions on expanding France's nuclear deterrence to European allies, reinforcing France's role as the EU's only nuclear power.
Meanwhile, the United States has weighed in on reports of potential troop deployments, emphasizing that any peacekeeping operation would require agreement from all parties involved. Lavrov noted that neither Macron nor UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer had mentioned such an agreement in their discussions.
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Back in January, The Telegraph reported that Macron and Starmer had begun talks on deploying a European peacekeeping force after a potential settlement in Ukraine. Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) estimated that such a deployment could involve around 100,000 troops, which Moscow sees as an attempt to strengthen Ukraine’s military rather than maintain peace.
The Kremlin has reiterated that any such move would only be possible with the consent of all sides, warning that without it, foreign troops in Ukraine would be viewed as direct military intervention.
