Macron Explores UN-Led Peacekeeping Mission for Ukraine Amid Shifting European Stance

French President Emmanuel Macron is reportedly exploring new ways to ensure peace in Ukraine without deploying European troops on the ground.

Macron, working alongside UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, is considering a United Nations-led peacekeeping mission to protect any future peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, The Telegraph reported on March 20.

According to the publication, Macron is pushing for the formation of a “coalition of the willing,” made up of NATO and EU member states, to establish a peacekeeping force supported by US security guarantees. Sir Keir Starmer recently hosted 30 senior military leaders from European countries and beyond to refine the plans.

However, the initiative is still in its early stages, with many questions remaining about the number of countries willing to contribute troops and how the force will be organized.

Macron discussed the potential UN-led alternative during recent European Council summit, where UN Secretary-General António Guterres was present. The conversation signals a shift away from European boots on the ground, as the UK and other European allies reconsider the risks and complexities of sending forces to Ukraine, The Telegraph reports.

Some European allies have been cautious or have outright rejected the idea of deploying European peacekeeping forces. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk firmly ruling out sending soldiers to Ukraine. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has expressed concerns, calling the idea “complex, risky, and ineffective,” but proposing to extend NATO’s Article 5 protection to Ukraine without full membership.

Meanwhile, attention is turning toward bolstering Ukraine’s defense through air and sea support, with the UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF) reportedly in talks to patrol Ukrainian skies as part of the broader European defense strategy.

The EU has also announced a €150 billion loan scheme to help member states purchase weapons, with the majority of funds earmarked for spending in the EU, Ukraine, or Norway. While countries like the UK, Canada, the US, and Turkey are not yet included in these plans, future defense pacts with the EU could change that dynamic, The Telegraph reports.

Previously, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has signaled Britain’s willingness to send troops to Ukraine for a long-term mission aimed at securing a potential ceasefire and deterring future Russian aggression, The Times reported on March 17.