According to French President Emmanuel Macron, the decision to station peacekeeping troops in Ukraine, as suggested by Britain and France in a ceasefire agreement with Russia, is a matter for Kyiv to determine, not Moscow. Macron emphasized Ukraine’s sovereignty in a recent interview, stating that if Ukraine requests allied forces on its soil, it is not up to Russia to approve or reject. Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have been actively working to strengthen military support for Ukraine amid efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump to broker a peace deal with Russia. They recently held a virtual meeting with other non-U.S. allies of Ukraine. Macron mentioned that any potential peacekeeping force would likely involve a few thousand troops per country stationed at key locations, with interest shown by both European and non-European nations. However, the specifics of such a force, like other aspects of a potential truce, remain uncertain. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed support for Washington’s proposal of a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine but indicated that his forces would continue fighting until certain conditions were met. Meanwhile, both Britain and France have expressed willingness to send peacekeepers, while Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that his country is open to requests for assistance. Aerial attacks between Russia and Ukraine have persisted, resulting in injuries and damages, officials reported.
