Ukraine Requires a Minimum of 200,000 Peacekeepers to Ensure Security, Says Zelenskyy

In a statement delivered at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 21, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the need for a significant peacekeeping force to safeguard Ukraine’s security and prevent a renewed Russian attack.

According to Zelenskyy, at least 200,000 peacekeepers, primarily from European nations, would be required as part of broader security guarantees.

Addressing representatives of the International Media Council, Zelenskyy underlined that the size of the proposed peacekeeping force is directly linked to the scale of the Russian military.

“With Russia maintaining a 1.5-million-strong army, and Ukraine possessing half that number, any peacekeeping mission must be sizable to be effective. A contingent of 200,000 troops is the minimum required. Anything less would render such efforts meaningless,” he stated.

The President mentioned previous international missions, including the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). “We cannot afford a repeat of ineffective initiatives where missions lack the scale and authority to enforce peace,” he added.

Zelenskyy stressed that deploying peacekeepers would only be one component of the necessary security guarantees for Ukraine and Europe.

Earlier, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the possibility of deploying British and French troops to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping mission following a potential ceasefire agreement. The leaders explored scenarios such as creating a demilitarized buffer zone, with discussions involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.