Zelensky calls on European countries to weigh in on the peacekeeping force

ParisNegotiations to end the war in Ukraine, spearheaded by US President Donald Trump, have intensified in recent days. Peace in Ukraine is not yet within reach, but it seems increasingly closer. Facing the prospect of a ceasefireFrance, and the United Kingdom are pressuring other governments to make progress on the architecture of the peacekeeping force that must ensure Russia complies with the agreements. So far, few governments have said out loud that they will join the peacekeeping mission, but both Paris and London, as well as Kiev, believe the time has come to commit.

At the summit being held this Thursday in the French capital with around thirty countries represented—the third to prepare for the mission—including Spain, the leaders will outline the peacekeeping force, dubbed by France as the "guarantee force." Knowing which countries are willing to send their soldiers to Ukraine is a key issue. "The important thing is to know who is willing to commit," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday after meeting with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, at the Élysée Palace.

France and the United Kingdom, driving forces behind the peacekeeping force, They want to begin to realize the idea of a military force that will not be on the front line. –only the Ukrainian army will be there– and will limit its role to ensuring compliance with the peace agreement. "We must prepare for any eventuality. The worst thing would be if there were an agreement and we were still figuring out how to defend it," a British government spokesperson warned last week.

Spain, undecided

Until now, the Spanish government has always maintained that "it is premature" to talk about a peacekeeping force, but with the acceleration of peace negotiations, it doesn't seem to have much more leeway to decide whether Spanish soldiers will be part of the peacekeeping mission. It remains to be seen whether or not the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, will commit to the peacekeeping mission at the summit.

This Wednesday, and despite the reluctance of some European capitals, Macron insisted that it is a mission with a "pacifist" vocation that will be far from the front lines. "The objective is not to be on the front lines against Russian forces, but rather it is the Ukrainian army that must dissuade Moscow from attacking again," the Élysée Palace resident explained. In any case, he did not rule out the possibility that European troops would have to respond to a possible Russian attack.

The United States—which will not be represented at the meeting of heads of state and government—does not oppose the dispatch of European troops to Ukraine, but refuses to participate despite requests to do so from Paris and London. Russia, on the other hand, is firmly opposed and will be one of the stumbling blocks to future peace negotiations. However, Macron warns that Putin has no right to oversee European support for Kiev. "Russia cannot intervene in the support we offer and will offer in Ukraine. Russia cannot dictate the terms of this lasting peace," he stressed.

More money for Ukraine

The President of the Republic reiterated to Zelensky once again on Wednesday that for Paris, military and financial support for Ukraine "is a priority" and announced new economic aid for Kiev of 2 billion euros. Europe wants to strengthen the Ukrainian army and opposes the demilitarization of the country that Moscow desires once a ceasefire is in place.

Russia and Ukraine have separately agreed with the United States on a truce in the Black Sea, the first step towards a more ambitious ceasefire, but Moscow sets conditions that are very difficult to accept., such as the lifting of Western sanctions against Russia relating to grain and fertilizer trade.

Lifting sanctions

Despite the difficulties, Washington is confident of reaching an agreement with Putin in April. An EU spokesperson warned Wednesday that there will be no lifting or modification of sanctions until there is an "unconditional" withdrawal of Russian forces "from all of Ukrainian territory." France believes the truce being negotiated in the Black Sea "a step in the right direction," but believes a peace agreement is still far off and distrusts the Russian president's willingness to accept a definitive ceasefire. "It's too early" to talk about lifting the sanctions, Macron believes.

Zelensky was forceful in responding to the Russian request and called on European countries to pressure Russia to accept the Black Sea truce. "Only diplomacy based on strength can be strong," the Ukrainian president warned at a press conference alongside Emmanuel Macron. "This is not the time to ease the pressure on Russia or weaken our unity," added Volodymyr Zelensky.

"By defending itself, Ukraine is defending Europe."

On the eve of the summit, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine plays a key role in defending its allies in an interview broadcast throughout European countries. "Ukraine, by defending itself, is defending Europe, that's indisputable," affirmed the Ukrainian president, who expressed his conviction that Europe will be at the negotiating table between Kiev and Moscow. Furthermore, Zelensky emphasized the importance of maintaining the ties between Washington and Brussels, which were damaged by Donald Trump's rise to power in the White House. Vladimir Putin, Zelensky said, "fears the unity of Europe and the United States, which is why his main action is to weaken this union and separate them, and I think he is achieving that to some extent."