UK and France Consider Peacekeeping Mission in Ukraine Following Potential Ceasefire

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are reportedly considering deploying British and French troops to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping mission following a potential agreement to end the war, The Telegraph reported on January 15, citing its sources.

According to the publication, French President Macron supports the initiative and has already discussed it with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

A source in Whitehall, speaking with The Telegraph, highlighted concerns about the potential risks to such a peacekeeping contingent and whether it could be perceived as an escalation.

“There are challenges over what we could support, what would we want to support, and the broader question about the threat that those troops may be under and whether that is escalatory,” the source stated.

According to The Telegraph, while representatives from Downing Street and the Élysée Palace have not denied that the topic was raised during a meeting at Chequers last week, details of the discussions remain confidential.

Various scenarios are being explored in Washington, London, and Paris, including the idea of deploying Western forces along the Ukraine-Russia border to establish a demilitarized buffer zone, according to the publication.

This report comes amid President Zelenskyy’s confirmation that discussions in Brussels included the idea of deploying a peacekeeping mission to Ukraine.

In December 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron proposed deploying peacekeepers to Ukraine as part of a broader European initiative to promote regional stability. Italy has also shown interest in contributing to these efforts, engaging in discussions alongside other key NATO allies.

On January 16, Starmer arrived in Kyiv with an unannounced visit, committing to a ‘100-Year Partnership’ treaty designed to ensure Ukraine’s security for the next century.