Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that Western military leaders will discuss the potential deployment of troops to Ukraine, which would monitor a possible ceasefire in the ongoing conflict with Russia. These troops would also be part of a new security framework for Ukraine.
“This is our starting point: the Ukrainian army must be strong enough, and on this basis, the entire security architecture should be built,” Zelensky said in his daily video address on April 1.
A meeting with representatives from partner countries, including military officials, is scheduled to take place on Friday, April 4, according to Zelensky.
Support for Peacekeeping Forces
Zelensky met on Tuesday with Germany’s outgoing Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock in Kyiv, where he discussed the readiness of a “close circle of countries” to send contingents to monitor a potential ceasefire. He is awaiting a “more concrete” response from allies regarding their willingness to participate.
France and the United Kingdom have expressed their readiness to send troops as part of a “coalition of the willing” to monitor the ceasefire. However, Russia has strongly opposed the deployment of any foreign troops in Ukraine.
Ongoing Violations and Russian Attacks
In his address, Zelensky also revealed that Ukraine had shared crucial information with its American partners regarding Russia’s violations in the energy sector. He condemned a Russian drone attack on Kherson on April 1, which targeted an energy facility, leaving parts of the city without power.
“We insist that every violation like this should be documented, and we seek a response from our partners,” Zelensky said, pointing out that such details contribute to Russia’s delays in diplomatic processes.
Zelensky referred to an agreement between Ukraine and Russia not to attack each other’s energy infrastructure, which was announced by the White House on March 25. The agreement includes a ceasefire to allow safe navigation in the Black Sea.
International Support for Ukraine
During her visit, Baerbock pledged Germany’s additional humanitarian aid of 130 million euros, bringing Germany’s total support since Russia’s invasion to 7 billion euros. Zelensky expressed gratitude for Germany’s consistent and predictable support, emphasizing that such stability is crucial for defending against Russia’s aggression.
