Allied Countries Consider Peacekeeping Troops for Ukraine - Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron said that allied countries are considering deploying peacekeeping troops to Kyiv, Odesa and Lviv and that other European countries have already expressed interest in this initiative.

He emphasized that such a scenario is part of a broader strategy to support Ukraine in its confrontation with Russia, Le Parisien reported.

Emmanuel Macron also emphasized that the initiative belongs not only to France, but also to Britain. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer noted that his country is ready to send up to 10,000 troops to Ukraine, and that two British trawler ships are planned to be sent to Ukraine if a peaceful solution is reached.

Keir Starmer made the statement on March 15 following a virtual summit with about 25 other leaders who are part of the "coalition of the willing" - states that could take part in a peacekeeping operation in Ukraine, The Telegraph reported.

It should be noted that in January 2024, Turkey decided to ban transit through its waters to the Black Sea for two British mine-searching ships. Turkey has informed all allies that it will not allow the use of the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits until the war in Ukraine is over.

In December 2023, the United Kingdom and Norway led a new Maritime Capabilities Coalition that will supply ships and vehicles to strengthen Ukraine's maritime capabilities. As part of this coalition, two Sandown-class mine countermeasures ships were purchased.

Also in January 2024, Ukrainian Navy Commander Oleksiy Neizhpapa said in an interview with the British TV channel Sky News that the Ukrainian Navy would gladly accept two British warships that the Royal Navy may have to decommission ahead of schedule. He was referring to the frigates HMS Argyll and the recently repaired HMS Westminster.

Кирило Бойко