“The commander noted that “these are hypothetical issues. There is no peace yet and there is no request from the UN ””, – WRITE: www.radiosvoboda.org
Thomas Susli said it was important to “distinguish between commitment from coercion to peace and obligation to maintain peace.”
“Coercion to peace means: peace must be provided with weapons. Switzerland does not participate in this. Peacekeeping assumes that Russia and Ukraine agrees to stop fighting, and the UN agrees to send peacekeeping forces to ensure peace. It can mean different tasks, ”he emphasized.
He added that Switzerland could probably provide about 200 soldiers for nine to twelve months. But he explained that the peacekeeping mission means that the actual deployment of weapons is “allowed only in a situation related to self -defense”, giving as an example Kosovo, where Swiss soldiers serve as part of NATO forces.
“Peacekeeping assumes that Russia and Ukraine are agreed to stop fighting and take the Sending of the UN peacekeeping forces to guarantee peace,” Susley said.
The commander noted that “the question is that the UN is needed” and that the parliament will decide, and “these are hypothetical issues. There is no peace yet and there is no request from the UN. ”
On February 20, The Telegraph newspaper, citing its sources, reported that the UK Prime Minister Kir Starmer would present US President Donald Trump to place a plan for accommodation in Ukraine about 30,000 military personnel from European countries after a peaceful agreement with Russia-as one of Guarantees of peace.
Earlier, he stated that Britain is ready to send its military to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping mission. So far, none of the European countries has just as clearly declared its readiness to participate in it, although some have not excluded it.
The plan provides for the sending of a small contingent to Ukraine, which will not be placed on the front line. The European military, according to The Telegraph, will be in large Ukrainian cities, ports and other critical infrastructure, such as NPPs. According to one of the sources of the publication, observation and intelligence planes, drones and satellites will also take part in the mission to provide a “complete picture of what is happening.” Patrol ships will also be sent to the Black Sea to ensure freedom of navigation.
Officially, the British government has not yet confirmed the authenticity of the plan in the publication.
According to Financial Times, French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that the European peacekeeping forces be placed on the future demarcation line rather than directly on it. But, as it is noted, Germany, Italy, Spain and Poland spoke opposed to sending their troops.
According to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, if Ukraine is not admitted to NATO, peacekeepers from the Alliance should be placed in the country. Russia has repeatedly stated that it was opposed to the deployment of NATO troops in Ukraine, and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said this week that Moscow would consider it as a “direct threat” of Russia’s sovereignty, even if the troops were acting there under another flag.