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Netherlands Ready to Send Peacekeepers to Ukraine if Ceasefire Reached

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Vlad Litnarovych
Vlad Litnarovych
Author
Netherlands Ready to Send Peacekeepers to Ukraine if Ceasefire Reached
Soldiers eliminate an enemy at a demonstration in Vlagheide, Eerde, North-Brabant, Netherlands, September 17, 2024 (Source: Getty Images).

The Dutch House of Representatives has passed a resolution supporting the possible deployment of peacekeeping forces to Ukraine if a ceasefire agreement with Russia is reached, Dutch broadcaster NOS reported on February 19.

The resolution urges the government to take a “constructive stance” on the Netherlands’ participation in post-war peacekeeping efforts in Ukraine, emphasizing that the country should play an active role in ensuring stability if Moscow and Kyiv agree to a truce.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof signaled openness to discussions about a potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, which has faced Russian aggression since 2022.

However, Geert Wilders, leader of the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV), opposed sending Dutch troops, arguing that the threat from Russia should not be “overestimated.”

The Green Left-Labour Party (GroenLinks-PvdA) supported the resolution, but a party representative cautioned that it was “still too early to discuss” deploying Dutch military forces in Ukraine. The final decision on troop deployment will rest with the Dutch government.

Previously, The Washington Post reported that European allies were considering sending 25,000 to 30,000 troops to Ukraine after a peace deal, aiming to prevent renewed Russian aggression. These units would be positioned behind the front lines, ready to respond if Moscow attempted to restart hostilities.

Meanwhile, sources cited by The Financial Times revealed that EU troops could be deployed in Ukraine’s rear as “security forces”, responsible for logistics and training Ukrainian troops. This option was reportedly discussed by EU leaders during an emergency summit in Paris on February 17.

Earlier, a poll conducted by the Forsa Institute for the German magazine Stern found that 49% of Germans support deploying Bundeswehr forces as part of a potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, while 44% oppose the idea. The survey also found that 7% of respondents did not express a clear opinion.

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