Sweden open to deploy 'peacekeepers' to Ukraine under right conditions
3 Min Read
Sweden recently deployed troops to Latvia as part of a NATO brigade, marking its largest military deployment since joining the alliance in 2024.
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Swedish soldiers take part in a military presentation of the medium-range Patriot air defense missile system, as well as the short-range RBS 98 missile system in Stockholm, Sweden, Sunday, April 30, 2023 (AP)
Sweden is considering the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine if necessary to uphold a future peace agreement, Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said on Monday.
Speaking to Sveriges Radio, Stenergard emphasized the need for a peace deal that aligns with international law and Ukraine's sovereignty before any deployment decisions are made. "First, we must agree on a just and lasting peace, which respects international law and Ukraine ... As soon as this peace is achieved, we will have to ensure that it is maintained. In this case, our government does not rule out anything," she stated when asked about Sweden's potential role in a peacekeeping mission.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also acknowledged that Sweden could send troops if an agreement is reached, though he stressed the importance of clear conditions. "We will take part in those discussions and of course, that is absolutely a possibility ... There needs to be a very clear mandate for those forces and I don't think we can see that until we have come further in those negotiations," Kristersson told Reuters.
Sweden's Broader Role in Regional Security
While Ukraine has not formally requested Swedish peacekeepers, Sweden has been an active supporter of Kiev since the start of the war in 2022. Initially providing non-lethal assistance, Sweden has since ramped up military aid, supplying tanks and artillery. In addition to its military assistance to Ukraine, Sweden recently deployed troops to Latvia as part of a NATO brigade, marking its largest military deployment since joining the alliance in 2024.
#WeAreNATO - Sweden’s largest deployment with NATO to date has arrived in Latvia.
— Försvarsmakten (@Forsvarsmakten) January 18, 2025
🇸🇪🇱🇻#StrongerTogether @NATOMNBLatvia @hqmndn pic.twitter.com/1JbVFiKsCF
The possibility of deploying Western troops to Ukraine has been gaining attention. On Sunday, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer affirmed that the United Kingdom is prepared to send forces if needed to strengthen Ukraine's security and play a leading role in shaping security guarantees for Kiev.
Reports have also indicated discussions between Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron about establishing a peacekeeping force in Ukraine once a peace deal is in place. The Telegraph reported on January 16 that both leaders had begun deliberating on such a plan.
Read more: France urges stronger European security as US shifts Ukraine policy
Russia's Reaction
The prospect of Western peacekeepers has been met with skepticism from Russia. In November, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) claimed that the West was preparing to send approximately 100,000 troops to restore Ukraine's military capacity, characterizing such a move as an occupation rather than a peacekeeping mission.
The Kremlin, through spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, has maintained that peacekeeper deployment would require approval from all involved parties.
"The deployment of peacekeepers is possible only with the consent of the parties to a conflict," the spokesman said in November 2024.
