Europe has always stood by Ukraine, and this time is no exception. France is now determined to send peacekeepers to Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron stated, “We will send peacekeepers to Ukraine even without Russia’s approval. If Ukraine invites allied forces to stay on its territory, it is not Russia’s decision to accept or reject it.” He made this statement on Saturday night (local time).
Additionally, the UK, Turkey, and other NATO countries have expressed their willingness to send peacekeeping forces to Ukraine in the post-war period. Macron has also planned to mobilize civilians in support of Ukraine and is looking for ways to encourage young French citizens to participate in this effort.
Earlier in January, he had asked the government and military to propose how to engage more young volunteers in supporting the armed forces. Meanwhile, generals from 27 countries are set to gather in London this week to discuss the potential deployment of troops, ships, and aircraft in Ukraine.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the UK is prepared to take a leadership role by deploying troops and aircraft. Meanwhile, the US and Russia are engaged in discussions about the next steps to end the war in Ukraine. On Sunday, the Kremlin confirmed that the two nations are holding talks on how to bring the conflict to an end.
Escalating Drone Attacks Between Ukraine and Russia
Both Ukraine and Russia have been hit by a series of retaliatory drone and missile attacks. Russian strikes have left several regions in Ukraine without electricity, while a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at a Russian oil refinery.
According to a Reuters report, both sides have continued airstrikes, leaving the future of a proposed ceasefire uncertain. Ukraine’s military reported that on Saturday, Russia launched 178 drones and two ballistic missiles, of which 130 drones were shot down. However, some drones struck critical infrastructure, causing significant damage in the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions.
On the other hand, Ukraine has also launched counterattacks. A Ukrainian drone strike on Russia’s Volgograd region set an oil refinery ablaze. More than 200 firefighters were deployed to control the fire.
Amid these ongoing attacks, ceasefire negotiations continue. On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed a 30-day ceasefire proposal with a US envoy. He stated that Moscow might agree to the ceasefire if certain conditions are met. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of stalling to strengthen its military position. He warned that if Russia rejects the proposal, the US would respond with strong and direct action.