The United Kingdom has unveiled a proposal to deploy 30,000 European Union peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, aiming to safeguard strategic cities and critical infrastructure. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to present this plan to U.S. President Donald Trump during an upcoming visit. However, experts and international responses suggest that the initiative faces substantial challenges.
Maksym Yali, an analyst at the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security, expressed skepticism about the feasibility of the British plan. He highlighted Russia’s firm opposition to the presence of NATO-affiliated troops in Ukraine, stating that Moscow’s stance makes the deployment of such a peacekeeping contingent highly improbable. Yali also pointed out that previous attempts to negotiate peacekeeping missions in 2016 and 2017 failed due to similar objections from Russia.
Further complicating the proposal are recent declarations from French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish officials, both indicating reluctance to commit troops to Ukraine. Given that the United Kingdom’s armed forces number approximately 70,000 personnel, unilateral action appears unviable. Yali noted that without broader European support, the UK’s capacity to implement the plan is limited.
The proposed peacekeeping force would focus on protecting key Ukrainian cities such as Poltava, Dnipro, and Kryvyi Rih, as well as essential infrastructure including ports and nuclear power plants. The mission would involve technical monitoring through reconnaissance using aircraft, satellites, and drones, with additional plans to patrol the Black Sea. The peacekeepers would be equipped to repel potential Russian attacks, and the United States might provide air support from bases in Poland and Romania.
Despite these detailed plans, Yali emphasized that discussions are still in preliminary stages. He referenced a recent summit convened by President Macron, which primarily focused on the composition of the peacekeeping force but did not yield concrete commitments from countries like Italy or Poland. Yali suggested that the initiative might be an attempt to gauge political and public opinion, rendering any conclusions about its realism premature.
Regarding the effectiveness of the proposed force, Yali recalled President Volodymyr Zelensky’s assertion that a contingent of 200,000 peacekeepers would be necessary to ensure stability in Ukraine. This figure significantly surpasses the 30,000 troops outlined in the British plan, raising questions about its adequacy. Yali also noted uncertainties about the deployment locations, traditionally along the contact line, but current discussions suggest positioning in cities like Poltava, Kryvyi Rih, and Dnipro, away from active conflict zones.
