Ukraine is already discussing with its partners the presence of an allied contingent in the Black Sea and in its airspace as part of future security guarantees.
This was stated at a briefing by Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhiy Tykhyi, Ukrinform reports.
“Any long-term security must include an increased presence of our allies in the Black Sea and in the air. We are already talking about this with them during the negotiations and believe that this is a serious topic that needs to be discussed,” he said.
These security parameters, according to the Foreign Ministry spokesman, can be discussed at the European Council meeting on March 6 and at some other meetings.
At the same time, Tykhyi warned that there are no specifics on the numbers, location, and form of a possible allied contingent in Ukraine. Instead, there is a broad European discussion in which Ukraine is participating, and different countries are expressing their opinions.
Speaking about the aviation component, the diplomat emphasized the importance of closing the skies in Ukraine, which “is no less, and maybe more important, than ground troops on the ground.”
“It is Russia’s dominance in the skies that currently allows it to dominate the battlefield and continue to terrorize Ukrainian cities, communities and villages,” the Foreign Ministry spokesman explained.
“Control is quite possible. It has been carried out in many countries, and even the proximity of Russian aircraft or the front line is not an obstacle. Similarly, patrols are carried out in the skies over the Baltic…”, the diplomat said, mentioning Syria in this context.
He also noted that Turkey, in Kyiv’s opinion, is a very important voice and participant in the conversation about European security, and it is present in discussions on how to ensure long-term security in Europe.
As reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky previously noted that the issue of creating a peacekeeping contingent is under consideration, and much depends, in particular, on the role the United States will play in this.
On Thursday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha emphasized that the discussion of foreign contingents in Ukraine as part of peace guarantees should also focus on the protection of Ukraine’s sea and sky, not just territory on the ground.
During a visit to Kyiv on February 24, the third anniversary of the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, European Council President Antonio Costa announced his intention to hold a special EU summit dedicated to strengthening Europe’s defense capabilities and increasing EU assistance to Ukraine.
Source: MFA: Ukraine discussing allied presence in Black Sea and airspace with partners
