A peacekeeping contingent in Ukraine – reality or utopia?
6 January 11:18
ANALYSIS
The deployment of a peacekeeping contingent in Ukraine is a topic that is being discussed more and more often and is even being understood by Western societies.
The majority of German residents are positive about the idea of deploying peacekeeping forces to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. According to a poll conducted by YouGov and commissioned by the dpa agency, 56% of respondents support this initiative.
Italy is also showing interest in participating in a peacekeeping mission. Defense Minister Guido Crozetto announced the readiness of the Italian military to join a contingent that could be formed to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
In 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron was one of the first to talk about sending troops to Ukraine.
However, not everyone is optimistic about the effectiveness of this approach. Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba expressed doubts about the feasibility of deploying peacekeepers. In his opinion, the funds that could be spent on the formation of a peacekeeping contingent would be better spent on providing the Ukrainian army with weapons. In any case, the issue of a peacekeeping mission remains open. Who exactly could be part of such troops, and whether our partners are able to guarantee Ukraine’s security after the war, was analyzed by Komersant ukrainskyi.
Peacekeeping mission: realities and difficulties
Piotr Kulpa, former Secretary of the Polish Delegation to the NATO Parliament and Deputy Minister of Economy of Poland (2005-2006), in an exclusive commentary outlined the difficult challenges facing the peacekeeping contingent.
Kulpa emphasizes that the attitude of European countries to the war in Ukraine is largely shaped by economic difficulties and internal problems. For example, polls show that societies in many European countries hope for an end to the conflict, even if it requires losses on the part of Ukraine, Kulpa said.
“At the same time, these countries, especially Germany, have been creating the conditions for the current situation for years. Destruction of their own nuclear power industry, dependence on Russian gas, and guaranteeing Russia revenues even in times of war are the decisions that led to today’s crisis. In 2022-2023, Russia will receive more money than ever before, and this is the responsibility of Germany, France and Italy.”
Petro Kulpa
He also noted that the policy of “old Europe” has been creating risks for the eastern NATO countries, in particular Poland and the Baltic states, for years.
The expert emphasizes that the organization of a peacekeeping contingent in Ukraine should take into account numerous factors, including geographical and political realities.
“Ukraine has more than 2000 kilometers of border with Russia and more than 1000 kilometers with Belarus, which has actually become part of Russia. Even if the Belarusian troops are withdrawn, Russian troops can take their place. This territory is extremely difficult for any peacekeeping mission,”
– Kulpa noted.
According to him, the deployment of peacekeeping troops is possible only after the conflict is formally terminated and with the consent of both sides. Both Ukraine and Russia must agree to the deployment of peacekeepers and pledge not to shoot at them, says the former secretary of the Polish delegation to the NATO Parliament. But is this possible in practice?
In addition, another important question arises: who exactly should be part of the peacekeeping troops?
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Composition of the peacekeeping contingent
Kulpa believes that the peacekeeping contingent should not include countries on NATO’s eastern flank, such as Poland, Lithuania, Latvia or Estonia, because of the risk of escalation.
“If peacekeepers from Poland or the Baltic states stand next to troops from other European countries, then in the event of a Russian attack, it is likely that Polish or Baltic soldiers will be targeted, not Germans or French. This adds additional risks to the eastern flank,”
– explains Piotr Kulpa.
In his opinion, Western European countries – Germany, France, Italy and Spain – should take responsibility for participating in such a mission.
“For years, the policy of old Europe has allowed them to receive economic benefits from cooperation with Putin, leaving the risks to Eastern Europe. But if their soldiers are the first to die in the event of aggression, it will instantly change their attitude to the reality of war.”
Petro Kulpa
Historical lessons and conclusions
Kulpa also recalled the lessons of peacekeeping missions in the Balkans, where some contingents failed to effectively perform their functions in the face of hostilities.
“We remember Srebrenica, where peacekeepers from the Netherlands and Germany failed to resist aggression. They simply retreated, leaving the local population to fend for themselves. Such examples call into question the effectiveness of peacekeeping missions if they are not backed by real power,”
– says Kulpa
According to the politician, the Ukrainian army remains the most effective guarantee of security in the region. After the war, only a strong and armed Ukrainian army will be able to defend Europe. The United States and other countries of the world must realize this.
