As of this writing, negotiations are still ongoing in the White House, where President Trump, Ukrainian President Zelensky, and a high-powered coterie of European leaders are looking for a deal to end the Russo-Ukrainian War. A late piece of news out of that meeting is rather less than encouraging; there are reports now that Russia has “roundly rejected” a proposal wherein NATO troops would aid in providing security for Ukraine. This isn’t terribly surprising, since President Putin has been insistent that Ukraine not be allowed to join NATO as any peace deal. Putin’s Russia appears to see NATO peacekeepers in Ukraine as being a difference that makes no difference, hence is no difference.
The Russian Foreign Ministry roundly rejected the idea of NATO forces serving as peacekeepers in Ukraine, a provision sought by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his European allies in U.S.-brokered peace talks.
“We confirm the position that has been voiced more than once about our categorical rejection of any scenarios involving the appearance of Ukraine military contingent with the participation of NATO countries (which is fraught with an uncontrolled escalation of the conflict with unpredictable consequences),” a foreign ministry statement reported by Russian state media outlet Ria read.
President Donald Trump already suggested a European-led peacekeeping force to ensure Russia does not invade Ukraine again would be a part of peace talks. Asked if U.S. would contribute forces, Trump said: “[Europe is] first line of defense, because they’re there, they’re Europe, but we’re going to help them out also, we’ll be involved.”
RIA Novosti, the Russian state-controlled media outlet, also reported on the refusal.
Any scenario for the deployment of NATO troops in Ukraine is categorically unacceptable for Russia and is fraught with a sharp escalation, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
“We reaffirm our repeatedly stated position on our categorical rejection of any scenarios that envisage the appearance in Ukraine of a military contingent with the participation of NATO countries, which is fraught with an uncontrolled escalation of the conflict with unpredictable consequences,” reads a commentary on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry, against the backdrop of statements by Western countries regarding the possibility of sending such a contingent.
It would be fraught with the possibility of NATO forces being an obstacle to any further Russian incursions; that much is certain. But this would, on the surface, appear to be the first stumbling block in these negotiations.
Read More: ‘Stop the Killing’: Trump, European Leaders Discuss Ending Russia-Ukraine War at White House
Zelensky Shows Up to White House Looking Very Different Than Last Time, and Trump Lets Him Know
President Trump and the various national leaders, along with the heads of the European Commission and NATO, are still sequestered, still talking, presumably still examining other options. One possible option would be arming Ukraine to the teeth, so that not even Russia would consider another invasion. But the problem of manpower remains; Ukraine and Russia have both lost a lot of young men in this bloodbath, but Russia has many more to lose.
Could this be one of the “big ones” in the deal left yet to be worked out? It’s looking like that may well be the case.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned; we will be bringing you updates as the situation unfolds.
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