Loss of territories and talk about peacekeepers. What the media write about Ukraine
Ukrainian troops are preparing to leave Velyka Novoselka, the loss of which opens the way to Dnipropetrovsk Region. Europe is discussing the dispatch of peacekeeping troops, assuming the allocation of a 50,000-strong contingent, while Kiev expects 200,000 troops to arrive. What the world media write about the situation in Ukraine - in Izvestia's digest.
Neue Zürcher Zeitung: Russian troops storm Velikaya Novoselka
In recent days, the military situation in eastern Ukraine has deteriorated sharply. Defense lines have collapsed on different parts of the front. The town of Velyka Novoselka is expected to fall soon. For three years it has been an important part of the Ukrainian defense lines and a bulwark against the advance of Russian troops.
Neue Zürcher Zeitung
Ukraine has suffered a painful defeat in the southern Donbass. Their troops are forced to withdraw from Velyka Novoselka after three years of fighting - with heavy losses. Critics accuse the high command of catastrophic mistakes.
Over the past weekend, the local small airport fell into Russian hands, followed by an assault on central residential neighborhoods. Ukrainian defenders appear to have been cut off from supplies. Some Ukrainians are outraged that Kiev does not seem to have learned how to defend itself. It remains an open question whether the Russians will continue to advance from Velyka Novoselka into the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Bloomberg: Zelensky wants the US to send peacekeepers to Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (credentials ended May 20) said European allies don't have enough soldiers to contain Russia. According to him, the US should be part of the peacekeeping force. Zelensky is seeking support from his most important ally as demands for diplomatic efforts to end the fighting in Ukraine grow.
Bloomberg
Initial conversations with [U.S. President Donald] Trump's advisers have made Ukraine's European allies cautiously optimistic about the new administration, and Zelensky praised Trump's pledge to expand U.S. energy exports as a way to clamp down on Moscow. He is keen to portray the upcoming talks as an opportunity for Trump to demonstrate US strength.
Ukraine is waiting for Europe and the U.S. to give security guarantees for the future. Zelensky has indicated that he wants such commitments from Trump before engaging directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin. That said, Zelensky's relationship with Trump, who did not mention Ukraine in his inauguration speech, remains strained.
Politico: Europe decides whether to send troops to post-war Ukraine
Discussions about deploying a peacekeeping force to Ukraine appear to be gaining momentum. Europe is trying to figure out what role it would play in Kiev's security beyond increased defense spending and arms supplies. One model being discussed is the deployment of a European-led peacekeeping unit to enforce any potential ceasefire.
Politico
Talk of European peacekeepers has begun in earnest. But no one has figured out how to move that conversation forward. <...> British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his country would play a "full role" in any potential peacekeeping force for Ukraine during a visit to Kiev last week, while French President Emmanuel Macron said Europeans need to "create security guarantees" for Ukraine.
Current talks are focused on forming a deterrent force of up to 50,000 troops from five or six European countries to guard the border line between Ukrainian and Russian forces in the event of a cease-fire. According to a European security official, the British and French have already begun preliminary planning.
Financial Times: will Europe deliver its "boot" to Ukrainian soil?
Trump's return to the White House has sparked interest in an idea first floated a year ago by Macron. Temporary talks have resumed about how Western troops, particularly European troops, could help maintain the cease-fire that Trump hopes to broker with Moscow. Zelensky said that "at least" 200,000 troops would be needed if Europe was serious about providing an effective deterrent.
Financial Times
Talks are underway between European allies, with Starmer and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expected to discuss the issue at an "informal retreat" organized by the EU on February 3. So far, only the Baltic states have indicated support for the idea, provided it is a broader mission involving other allies. Poland has ruled out sending troops and insists that the troops involved in Ukraine should not be NATO states bordering Russia.
When Macron first proposed sending troops, the idea was that the Europeans could take on support roles such as protecting critical infrastructure, training the Ukrainian military, repairing weapons or patrolling the border with Belarus. This would allow most of the Ukrainian army to focus on frontline operations. However, Trump's re-election has changed the discussion. The focus is now on how European troops can be used as a peacekeeping force, as well as help support the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
