State Duma says NATO countries have no right to deploy peacekeepers in Ukraine
NATO member states have no right to deploy a peacekeeping contingent on the territory of Ukraine because they are an interested party. This was pointed out by the deputy chairman of the State Duma's defense committee, Yuriy Shvytkin, in a conversation with Izvestiya on 16 January.
The Telegraph quoted sources as saying that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron were considering sending peacekeepers to Ukraine. It was noted that they were talking about peacekeeping forces that could be transferred to the Kiev regime following a potential deal with Russia to end the conflict.
"I want to point out that NATO bloc countries, in my opinion, do not have the right to be peacekeeping forces, taking one of the sides, in this case the position of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, representing their interests. At the same time, the NATO countries, including the UK and France, are hatching aggressive plans against our state and continue to provide the AFU with weapons and equipment," Shvytkin commented.
He emphasized that he opposes the deployment of French and British peacekeepers in Ukraine and added that it would escalate tensions in the region and become a de facto occupation of the country.
"The next point: our, as we have already emphasized, requirements, goals, tasks on the line of the NWO remain unchanged, regardless of any statements and intentions, including on the part of France and the UK," - concluded the MP.
Prior to that, on January 13, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose powers expired on May 20, 2024, said that he discussed with French President Macron during a phone call the initiative to deploy Western military units. He also announced a pact of close cooperation in developing effective security guarantees for Ukraine.
A day earlier, on January 12, former British defense ministers Grant Shapps and Gavin Williamson advocated sending British peacekeepers to Ukraine. As Shapps noted, sending peacekeepers is only a small part of what Ukraine needs. In addition, he added that Prime Minister Keir Starmer has traveled anywhere but Kiev in the six months since his election.
Western countries have stepped up military and financial support for Ukraine amid Russia's special operation to protect Donbass, which was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022, after the situation in the region worsened due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.
