On Monday, 17 February, 2025, Paris held an emergency summit to discuss European security and the role of UN Peacekeepers in Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron initiated the meeting and invited leading European countries to develop a unified position in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and negotiations held in Riyadh.
Summit Participants: EU-27 Positions
The summit participants included British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The discussion centred around the possibility of sending European peacekeeping forces to Ukraine as a show of European unity on Ukraine and to deter Russian breaches of any final peace agreement.
Britain’s Position
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his readiness to send British peacekeepers to Ukraine, stressing that London is ready to take a leading role in providing security guarantees to Ukraine. He noted that the UK is committed to allocating £3 billion annually in military aid to Ukraine until 2030 and is ready to send its troops if necessary.
German Position
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed caution on the issue of sending peacekeepers to an active conflict zone, stressing the need for a thorough assessment of the risks and conditions for such a mission.
Polish Position
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk supported the idea of ​​increasing military aid to Ukraine and strengthening national defense, but noted that the decision to send peacekeepers should be collective and based on the consensus of all participating countries.
The U.S. Role and Upcoming Talks
Summit participants expressed concern about those talks held yesterday in Riyadh without the participation of European countries and Ukraine. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance came under fire for his comments about free speech laws in Germany, adding to tensions in U.S.-European relations.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer noted that the introduction of European peacekeeping forces requires a commitment from the United States to provide security, stressing that without support from Washington, such a mission would be difficult. Starmer also added that it was too early to talk about the specific number of British troops that could be sent to Ukraine.
Implications for NATO: British Peacekeepers in Ukraine
The deployment of British peacekeepers to Ukraine could increase tensions between NATO and Russia.
Moscow could see it as a provocation and a strengthening of the Western military presence on its borders. There could be disagreements within the alliance, with some countries supporting the mission and others fearing escalation.
It would also increase Europe’s dependence on U.S. military support. In the long term, NATO would have to rethink its security strategy in Eastern Europe and find new ways to engage with Russia.
Moscow Reacts
Moscow has reacted sharply to discussions about the possible deployment of British peacekeepers to Ukraine, calling it interference in the conflict and a security threat.
The Kremlin has said such moves could escalate and destabilise the region. Russian officials have stressed that such initiatives worsen the crisis and jeopardise diplomatic avenues for resolving it.
The Paris summit highlighted Europe’s growing role in Ukraine’s security, with the UK taking a proactive stance.
However, concerns about tensions between NATO and Russia and U.S. involvement remain. While peacekeeping efforts could stabilise the region, they also risk escalation. The coming months will determine whether diplomacy or military presence will shape the future of the conflict.
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