The Ukrainians need partner forces standing with them closer to the front line. Ukraine does not need a foreign military contingent deployed in the western regions of the country, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says, according to the BBC.
The deployment of a peacekeeping contingent from allies should be as close to the line of hostilities as possible, Zelenskyy adds. According to him, there are also signals from other states willing to reinforce Ukraine with their contingents.
Where peacekeepers are needed: maximum proximity to the front line
The Ukrainian leader stresses that Ukraine would like to see peacekeepers deployed closer to the front line. He noted that, for example, if Poland, which has not confirmed participation, were to propose deploying a contingent in Lviv, Ukraine would not need it.
Zelenskyy underlines that Ukraine expects its partners to be present where threats persist, while also acknowledging that no country is ready to place its troops on the very first line of defense.
“No one wants to stand on the first line. But the Ukrainians would like our partners to be alongside them, and that is logical,” Zelenskyy says.
Allies' practical readiness: Coalition of the Willing deal
President Zelenskyy says that the UK and France are ready to send contingents to Ukraine under the declaration with all participants of the so-called “Coalition of the Willing”.
Earlier, on 6 January in Paris, Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a document of intent on the deployment of multinational forces.
