Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has chosen the sword, emphasizing the importance of unity in the face of the ongoing conflict. In a speech on the country’s Unity Day, he stated that the strength of the Ukrainian people lies in their unity and that the country’s interests must take precedence over personal ambitions. Zelensky also expressed his skepticism about reducing the military mobilization age from 26 to 18, citing the need for a strong and well-equipped military.
The Ukrainian president has proposed a peacekeeping mission to the EU and the US, suggesting that at least 200,000 troops be sent to the front lines, not in the capital city of Kiev. He believes that the EU’s military capabilities will not be sufficient and that the US must be involved in the mission. Zelensky also suggested that Ukraine be admitted to the NATO alliance, arguing that this would eliminate the need for foreign military aid and the risk of losing Ukrainian soldiers.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian government is in talks with NATO about stationing up to 50,000 foreign troops along the 1,000-kilometer front line, with the possibility of a coalition led by the UK, France and the Netherlands, along with the Baltic and Nordic states. However, the idea of a 200,000-strong peacekeeping force is met with skepticism in the West, with some experts arguing that even 40,000 troops would be sufficient.
The Russian government has rejected the idea of NATO troops in Ukraine, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stating that such a move would be unacceptable and could lead to an uncontrollable escalation of the conflict. Experts in Russia believe that the talk of a peacekeeping mission is a way to distract from the ongoing conflict and that the UN would be a more suitable forum for such discussions, given the need for consent from all parties involved.