“I don’t see any prerequisites.” In which case the idea with peacekeepers in Ukraine “will not take off” and under what conditions it will be effective – interview with Chaly

— How probable is the placement of European troops in Ukraine? Secondly, should we take this as an alternative to an invitation to NATO?

— In order to understand the deployment of troops in Ukraine, which recently sounds somehow different, I will remind you where it came from.

French President Emmanuel Macron once announced such a possibility during hostilities, in fact to support Ukraine. It was about the fact that if these are not immediately troops on the front line, then there may be instructors, pilots, veterans on the same French Mirages (fighters — Ed.), service engineers. This is absolutely normal, in line with our existing bilateral agreements with these countries.

But now it is not about that, but about the peacekeeping forces. To put it very briefly, peacekeepers, as they are called, with different missions (support, creating conditions for peace – whatever), come only when both sides of the war (not just a conflict, but in this case a war) stop the war, agree on a truce, a ceasefire at least. Only then are peacekeepers involved.

In our case, they want to talk now about issues that still need to be addressed. And if these conversations and this discussion, which can be, will replace the discussion about the only method of pressure – the coercion of peace? This is the only way out of the UN Charter, everyone knows it. Russia’s violation of the UN Charter, aggression, should cause a coalition of coercion for peace. Because it is blocked by Russia and China, something hybrid is invented.

I claim: despite the fact that this idea of ​​peacemaking is in itself acceptable for discussion, it should not change the key task — strengthening Ukraine with weapons, forcing Russia to make peace. Russia will not agree to a stop in any other way [бойових дій]. As long as she advances in the war, she will settle for nothing.

And when there will be peacekeeping, then look at the details, because it may be that they will offer, as it was done before: “And withdraw your troops from the contact line for another 50 km, move closer to the Dnipro River and the city of Dnipro; withdraw, and Russia will withdraw 50 km on your territory.” I submit that this build doesn’t take off, sorry, that’s not how it works. The only line we can talk about is the border. Peacekeepers at the border – you can start a conversation.

— That is, you think that this discussion about peacekeeping troops, although useful for us, is more wishful thinking. The peace process, to put it mildly, will not start now, not tomorrow and not even next month.