The introduction of a European contingent to Ukraine may only become a reality after a ceasefire is achieved. This was stated by the Dutch Minister of Defense, Ruben Brekelmans, during an interview.
This is reported by Kyiv24
“The idea is that the mission could start after the ceasefire or after a peace agreement,” the minister said.
According to Brekelmans, participating countries are currently discussing various scenarios for launching such a mission. He emphasized that the details remain unresolved, and a final decision will be made considering the further development of the situation.
“We do not know how the negotiations will proceed: whether there will be a ceasefire first and then a peace agreement, or if they will happen simultaneously. Everything is unknown. We have to think about different scenarios,” the minister explained.
Brekelmans also noted that active preparatory work is ongoing. “The urgency is related to the fact that no one knows how the peace negotiations will go: they may take a long time, or they may suddenly lead to a breakthrough. And then we must be ready for Europe to play its role,” he added.
The full version of the interview with Dutch Minister of Defense Ruben Brekelmans will be published on the website later.
On April 10, the first meeting of defense ministers from 30 countries in the format of a ‘coalition of willing’ took place at NATO headquarters in Brussels, aimed at ensuring long-term peace in Ukraine. This initiative was launched in February by France and Britain.
On March 27, leaders from 27 countries gathered in Paris to discuss guarantees for Ukraine following a possible ceasefire, including the possibility of deploying ‘coalition of willing’ forces on its territory. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Western contingents would not be stationed at the frontline but would operate at strategic points in the peace zone as security support forces.