European Peacekeepers Needed to Ensure Security in Ukraine, Says President Zelenskyy

During a statement at the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted the critical requirement for a substantial number of European peacekeepers—at least 200,000—to deter potential future assaults from Russia once a ceasefire is established. This appeal came just after Donald Trump resumed the presidency, following his pledges for a prompt conclusion to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Zelenskyy stressed the importance of these peacekeepers, remarking that the figure is the bare minimum necessary, particularly given the significant disparity in military size between Russia and Ukraine, with the former boasting approximately 1.5 million troops compared to Ukraine's estimated 750,000. He articulated that this peacekeeping force should be accompanied by other security guarantees that Ukraine requires for its defense.

Moreover, discussions are underway to facilitate a meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump, with Zelenskyy confirming that teams are actively coordinating the logistics. He also made it clear that Ukraine would firmly resist any Russian demands to significantly reduce its military capabilities, predicting that such requests would aim for a drastic cut-down to one-fifth of its current size.

In his address, Zelenskyy urged European nations to develop a robust defense and security framework, indicating that the lack of influence European leaders have over U.S. security perceptions may stem from insufficient contributions to mutual defense efforts. He emphasized the importance of unity among European countries to enhance their global standing and highlighted the potential implications of Trump’s recommendation for NATO countries to increase their defense budgets to 5% of their GDP. Zelenskyy argued that financing defense should not come at the expense of essential public services like healthcare or pensions, reflecting on the broader challenge of maintaining equilibrium in national priorities amidst security concerns.