Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for a large international peacekeeping force—at least 200,000 troops—to enforce any future ceasefire with Russia.
“From all the Europeans? 200,000, it’s a minimum. It’s a minimum, otherwise it’s nothing,” Zelensky said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday.
🔴 Zelenskyy started his work in Davos with a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
They talked about the situation on the battlefield, Ukraine’s defense needs, strengthening Ukraine’s air defense system, and preparations for the next NATO summit in Washington pic.twitter.com/RgS92Mpe0F
— Slava 🇺🇦 (@Heroiam_Slava) January 16, 2024
Zelensky’s comments come as U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged to quickly negotiate an end to the war. While no detailed plan has been proposed yet, the deal is expected to involve the presence of European peacekeepers.
Zelenskyy warned that Europe must act decisively, given the war’s proximity to its borders. He highlighted reports of North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian forces near Ukraine’s eastern border and stressed that European countries cannot rely solely on the U.S. for security. “Europe needs to establish itself as a strong, global player,” he said.
Russia immediately rejected the peacekeeping proposal, with its Foreign Ministry calling the idea a risk for “uncontrollable escalation.”
At the recent forum, the Ukrainian president also called on Europe to reduce its reliance on Russian energy. He criticized European nations seeking U.S. security guarantees while continuing to purchase Russian energy. “You can’t keep buying gas from Moscow while expecting help from the Americans,” Zelenskyy said.
The call for energy independence follows Trump’s pledge to increase American energy exports. While this may provide alternatives for Europe, Zelenskyy warned that the continent must invest in its own energy security.
