Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has spoken out in favor of stationing European troops near the front lines in the event of a ceasefire with Russia. In an interview with the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency, Zelensky said: “Of course the Ukrainians want our partners to stand with us on the front line.” At the same time, he admitted: “Of course no one wants to be on the first line.”
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Zelensky made his statements against the backdrop of possible negotiations for a ceasefire. He emphasized that an international presence could serve as a security guarantee and help prevent further escalation. He did not provide details about the size or mandate of such troops. In the past, several European states had expressed reluctance about a direct military presence near the front.
In the conversation, Zelensky also made serious allegations against Moscow and Washington. “Both the Americans and the Russians say: If you want the war to end tomorrow, get out of Donbass,” he explained. In doing so, he called for Ukraine to withdraw completely from the eastern Ukrainian region.
Russia claims the entire Donbass for itself, but only controls parts of the region militarily. Kyiv has so far rejected territorial concessions and insists on restoring territorial integrity. The issue of Donbass is considered one of the central points of contention in possible peace negotiations.
