There are several conditions: after what events is Europe really ready to provide a peacekeeping contingent to Ukraine

There are several conditions: after what events Europe is really ready to provide a peacekeeping contingent to Ukraine Melania Golembyovskaya

A year ago, France was the initiator of sending NATO troops to Ukraine, but the idea failed to materialize. Now Emmanuel Macron has offered to provide our country with a peacekeeping contingent if the United States helps.

So, Donald Trump must first use his geopolitical influence on Vladimir Putin and create 2 conditions for Europe. International security expert Taras Zhovtenko told Channel 24 in more detail about this, noting that such a proposal is quite advantageous for the United States.

After which Europe will send peacekeeping forces to Ukraine

Last spring, the French president considered the idea of ​​having European troops in Ukraine, but then they would have been forced to take part in the fighting. In addition, it would be necessary to send a large number of troops, weapons and aircraft to Ukraine, which is not beneficial for Europe.

“Therefore, European countries consulted, enlisted the support of Macron, as the author of the initiative, and changed the format of how they present the future US president with a vision of their military presence in Ukraine. The format changed from a military mission to a peacekeeping one“, Zhovtenko explained.

Macron said that first the US must convince Russia to sit down at the negotiating table, and Europe must build security guarantees for Ukraine in the form of a military presence on the demarcation line.

That is, a peacekeeping mission can appear in Ukraine only after the United States ensures a long-term ceasefire and reaches an agreement on a buffer zone, he emphasized.

According to the expert, the Europeans thus took a step back and passed the “pass” to Trump in Washington.

Will Trump agree to Europe's “plan”

On the one hand, such a position of European countries is rational for them, on the other hand, the question arises whether Trump will like it.

European leaders now need to explain to the team of the future US president and to him himself why they changed their position on the military mission and peacekeepers, Zhovtenko noted.

According to the expert, Trump may think that the Europeans want to save money on him. However, if the United States does not support such an initiative of Europe, the Europeans will need up to 5 years to increase their military capabilities and independently ensure a ceasefire.

This option will not suit either Ukraine or Trump. Even Europe would not be satisfied with this, because they would consciously agree to the continued existence of a Russian threat to themselves.

During this time, Russia could strengthen its potential and directly threaten NATO. Trump understands that if the situation reaches this point, then America's spending on ensuring security in Europe will be much greater than what the Europeans are asking for now, he added.

By the way, Volodymyr Zelensky supported Macron's proposal for a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, but requires specific mechanisms for its implementation. At the same time, the President of Ukraine emphasized that the idea could become part of the system of security guarantees for our country.