It is still too early to discuss the exact configuration of a potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, but it is clear that there are many ways to organize it, including the involvement of peacekeepers from both NATO countries and third countries that are not part of the Alliance.
This was stated by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on February 13 in Brussels, following a meeting of NATO defense ministers.
Rutte responded to a question from an Ukrinform correspondent about whether other allies share the U.S. position of not involving American servicemen in a potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine and what security guarantees Ukraine could expect from NATO in this context.
“Why do you want to discuss at a press conference the exact configuration of what a lasting peace deal would look like including the security guarantees which have to be part of that? You can have many discussions on how to do that. It could be NATO, it could be non-NATO individual countries helping. There are many ways to do that. But to go into that in detail, the only thing we will be doing is informing Vladimir Putin… And I don’t want to make him any wiser,” NATO Secretary General said .
He also noted that the United States has every right to express its position on whether NATO should participate in such a mission or not.
As reported, a meeting of NATO defense ministers took place in Brussels on Thursday. Yesterday, a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group took place with their participation. Today, an informal Ukraine-NATO Council meeting was held in the form of a working lunch, with the participation of Ukraine’s Minister of Defense and the EU’s High Representative, Kaja Kallas.
Source: Peacekeepers could be deployed to Ukraine from both NATO and third countries – Rutte
