Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi spoke on Monday with French President Emmanuel Macron about the idea of deploying Western “contingents” in Ukraine. This was reported by the AFP agency, writes TASR.
The Ukrainian leader did not specify whether he was talking about sending combat troops or peacekeepers as part of the agreement to end the nearly three-year war with Russia. “It was quite a long and detailed conversation. We talked about defense support – various forms of defense, weapons packages for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said in the evening speech. “We also talked about the deployment of partner contingents and the training of our army,” he added.
Macron has talked about the idea of sending Western troops to Ukraine before, and in December he discussed with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk the possibility of deploying peacekeeping troops there in the event of a cease-fire. Last year, Moscow accelerated its advance in Ukraine, whose overstretched army is suffering from exhaustion and a shortage of troopsAFP stated.
Newly elected US President Donald Trump has promised to ensure a quick end to the fighting after taking office (January 20). This raised fears in Ukraine that it would be forced to make major territorial concessions in exchange for peace.
