Ukraine needs at least 200,000 peacekeepers to protect Russia’s new attack – Zelenskyi

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, said that in order to prevent a new Russian attack on Ukraine after a possible ceasefire, it is necessary to deploy at least 200,000 European peacekeepers.

He said this in his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Reuters reports.

Zelensky emphasized that reliable guarantees are necessary to ensure the security of Ukraine and Europe after a possible ceasefire, and one of the key components of such guarantees is the deployment of a large peacekeeping contingent.

The President of Ukraine stated that 200,000 peacekeepers is the minimum necessary amount that will provide protection against a repeated Russian invasion. This is especially important if the Russian armed forces number 1.5 million people, and Ukraine has only half that number.

“From all Europeans? 200 thousand is the minimum. This is the minimum, otherwise it is nothing,” Zelensky noted.

According to the French Ministry of Defense, this amount corresponds to the size of the entire armed forces of France in 2020.

Zelensky also added that peacekeepers are only part of the security system that Ukraine needs to ensure stability in the future.

Background:

On January 21, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Davos to participate in the World Economic Forum. In his speech, he emphasized the importance of Europe becoming stronger and more capable, becoming as valuable an ally for the United States as the States themselves are for Europe.

Zelensky also noted that European states should not skimp on their security, indirectly supporting the new US President Donald Trump’s call to increase NATO defense spending to 5% of GDP.

In addition, the president of the European Commission warned about a possible start “global race to exhaustion” using economic instruments such as sanctions, export controls and tariffs.