Not for Russia to decide on peacekeepers in Ukraine: Macron

PARIS: The stationing of peacekeeping troops in Ukraine, as proposed by Britain and France as part of a ceasefire agreement with Russia, is a question for Kyiv to decide and not Moscow, French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview.

Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have been rushing to consolidate military support for Ukraine as US Preident Donald Trump presses for a peace deal with Russia. Starmer hosted a virtual meeting on Saturday with Macron and other non-US allies of Ukraine.

“Ukraine is sovereign. If it asks for allied forces to be on its territory, it’s not something for Russia to accept or not,” Macron said in a joint interview with several French regional newspapers published late on Saturday.

Russia has repeatedly rejected the idea of soldiers from countries belonging to the Nato alliance being stationed in Ukraine. Macron said any peacekeeping force would consist of “a few thousand troops per country” to be deployed at key locations, adding a number of European and non-European countries were interested in participating.

Finland’s President Alexander Stubb told BBC television that any firm commitments would come once there was a clear plan. “There are anywhere from zero to 50 different ways they can help, boots on the ground is only one way. You can talk about intelligence, you can talk about different types of things but it’s too early to commit right now,” he said.