EU leaders discuss the deployment of peacekeepers in Ukraine, and opinions are divided.

At the emergency Paris summit on February 17, French President Emmanuel Macron proposed deploying peacekeeping troops in Ukraine. However, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Poland opposed this idea.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz labeled the discussion as “highly inappropriate”, stating, “This discussion is premature, and now is not the right time for it”.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni argued that sending European troops to Ukraine is the “most difficult and least effective” option available.

Instead, all meeting participants agreed on the need to increase spending on the continent’s defense, recognizing that a ceasefire in Ukraine is impossible without a peace agreement. They also acknowledged that Europe is prepared to offer security guarantees that hinge on the level of US support.

At the same time, analysts warn that deploying peacekeeping troops in Ukraine could heighten the risk of a direct clash between Europe and Russia and strain European armies, which are already low on supplies needed by Ukraine. The source of funding for such support also remains in question.