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EU's Top Diplomat Discusses Role of Peacekeepers in Ukraine Conflict

 EU Won't Deploy Troops to Ukraine Amid Ongoing Conflict, Says Kaja Kallas

EU's Top Diplomat Discusses Role of Peacekeepers in Ukraine Conflict
EU's Top Diplomat Discusses Role of Peacekeepers in Ukraine Conflict

The European Union is not considering sending peacekeepers to Ukraine because the conflict between Kiev and Moscow is far from over, the country's top diplomat, Kaja Callas, said.

Kallas, who took over as EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy earlier this month, made the remarks during a press conference on Monday ahead of a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council.

“First there has to be peace,” he said when asked if the EU could send peacekeepers to Ukraine. “If you look at [Russian Foreign Minister Sergei] Lavrov’s interview with [Tucker Carlson], they didn’t deviate from their goal at all. We can’t imagine it.”

Kallas was referring to a conversation Lavrov had with a conservative American journalist earlier this month. The minister reiterated Moscow’s position that the conflict in Ukraine was caused by a Western-backed revolt in Kiev in 2014, which led the Ukrainian government to persecute the Russian speaker He also stressed Russia’s opposition to Ukraine joining NATO .

At the same time, he signaled that Moscow strongly favors a negotiated peaceful solution “based on respect for Russia’s legitimate security interests, and respect for the people… who remain Russian in Ukraine and living on Ukraine”.

Citing sources, Politico reported last week that EU leaders planned to discuss the possibility of sending peacekeepers to Ukraine, a meeting that came as the U.S. Following pressure from President-elect Donald Trump, who has called for a ceasefire and vowed to end the conflict. Several officials, including NATO chief Mark Rutte and Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky, are expected to attend the meeting scheduled for Wednesday, the outlet said

According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty , French President Emmanuel Macron is one of the leading voices supporting the peace forces in the war-torn country

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said any talk of sending peacekeepers is moot now, given that Zelensky has signed a decree banning any talks with current Russian leaders. “Under these circumstances, we continue our special military operations,” he said.

Moscow says its main goals in the conflict are Ukrainian neutrality, demilitarization and demilitarization. It has declared its readiness to declare a ceasefire and begin peace talks once Ukrainian troops withdraw from Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions and all Russian territories.